Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin
Number 13
April 2012 – March 2013
Butterfly Conservation Report No. S13-18
Compiled & Edited by
A. M. Davis (Moth Conservation Officer)
M. S. Parsons (Head of Moth Conservation)
October 2013
Butterfly Conservation
Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)
Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset. BH20 5QP
Charity registered in England and Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)
www.butterfly-conservation.org
Davis, A.M. & Parsons, M.S. (eds.) (2013) Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 13: April
2012 – March 2013, Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S1318)
Contents
1
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 1
2
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 2
3
CONSERVATION ACTION FOR UK BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN LEPIDOPTERA ................................................... 2
3.1
3.4
UPDATE ON UK BAP MOTHS – A SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR 2012 ............................................................................................ 3
Agonopterix atomella ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata....................................................................................................................... 3
Barberry Carpet Pareulype berberata ....................................................................................................................... 3
Belted Beauty Lycia zonaria britannica ..................................................................................................................... 4
Black-veined Moth Siona lineata ............................................................................................................................... 4
Bright Wave Idaea ochrata........................................................................................................................................ 5
Coleophora vibicella .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Coleophora wockeella ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Dark Bordered Beauty Epione vespertaria ................................................................................................................ 5
Dingy Mocha Cyclophora pendularia ........................................................................................................................ 7
Drab Looper Minoa murinata .................................................................................................................................... 7
Eudarcia richardsoni .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Fiery Clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis ................................................................................................................ 8
Forester Adscita statices ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Grapholita pallifrontana ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Marsh Mallow Moth Hydraecia osseola hucherardi ................................................................................................. 9
Marsh Moth Athetis pallustris ................................................................................................................................... 9
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus .................................................................................................... 9
Netted Carpet Eustroma reticulatum ...................................................................................................................... 10
New Forest Burnet Zygaena viciae argyllensis ........................................................................................................ 10
Olive Crescent Trisateles emortualis ........................................................................................................................ 11
Phyllonorycter sagitella & Sciota hostilis ................................................................................................................. 11
Phyllonorycter scabiosella ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Reddish Buff Acosmetia caliginosa .......................................................................................................................... 11
Scarce Pug Eupithecia extensaria ............................................................................................................................ 11
Scarce Vapourer Orgyia recens ................................................................................................................................ 11
Scythris siccella ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
Shoulder-striped Clover Heliothis maritima ............................................................................................................. 12
Silky Wave Idaea dilutaria ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Slender Scotch Burnet Zygaena loti scotica ............................................................................................................. 12
Straw Belle Aspitates gilvaria .................................................................................................................................. 13
Striped Lychnis Shargacucullia lychnitis................................................................................................................... 13
Sussex Emerald Thalera fimbrialis ........................................................................................................................... 13
White-mantled Wainscot Archanara neurica .......................................................................................................... 14
White-spotted Pinion Cosmia diffinis ...................................................................................................................... 14
UK BAP MOTH NEWSLETTER .......................................................................................................................................... 14
UPDATE ON UK BAP BUTTERFLIES - A SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR 2012 .................................................................................... 14
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina ......................................................................................................................... 14
Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia ............................................................................................................................. 15
Large Blue Phengaris arion ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia ........................................................................................................................ 17
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne........................................................................................................... 18
Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon ....................................................................................................................... 18
FARMLAND BUTTERFLY INITIATIVE ..................................................................................................................................... 19
4
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION COUNTRY AND REGIONAL UPDATES .................................................................... 20
4.1
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN SCOTLAND ......................................................................................................................... 20
4.1.1
Priority Species work in Scotland ............................................................................................................... 21
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND …. ………….…………………….…………………………………...………………………………………….……….23
3.2
3.3
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN WALES .............................................................................................................................. 24
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN THE WEST MIDLANDS .......................................................................................................... 24
4.4.1 Reconnecting the Wyre .............................................................................................................................. 25
4.4.2 Conserving the Wood White Butterfly in the South Shropshire Woods Project ......................................... 27
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN NORTHERN ENGLAND ............................................................................................................ 28
4.5.1 Conserving the Pearl-bordered Fritillary Project ........................................................................................ 28
4.5.2 Conserving North York Moors Limestone Grassland for Dukes and Pearls Project .................................... 29
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN EASTERN ENGLAND .............................................................................................................. 29
4.6.1 Norfolk Brecks Heathland Restoration for Threatened Butterflies and Moths Project .............................. 30
4.6.2 Managing elms for the White-spotted Pinion in the Cambridgeshire Fens ............................................. 300
4.6.3 Conserving the Wood White Butterfly in Northamptonshire’s Woodlands ............................................... 31
4.6.4 Restoring the Ipswich Heaths ..................................................................................................................... 31
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND........................................................................................................ 31
4.7.1 Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project ................................................................................................... 32
4.7.2 Saving Devon’s Precious Pearls .................................................................................................................. 33
4.7.3 Expanding the Large Blue in the Polden Hills ............................................................................................. 33
4.7.4 Conserving the Painswick Valley’s Rare Butterflies .................................................................................... 34
4.7.5 Portland Limestone Grassland Restoration Project.................................................................................... 34
LEPIDOPTERA RECORDING UPDATES ................................................................................................................ 35
NATIONAL MOTH RECORDING SCHEME ............................................................................................................................ 35
NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT 2012…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….36
BUTTERFLIES FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM ......................................................................................................................... 36
BUTTERFLY MONITORING – PROGRESS IN 2012 .................................................................................................................. 37
6
NEWS AND NOTES ............................................................................................................................................ 39
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION EUROPE - SUMMARY FOR 2012 .……………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………..39
UPDATE ON BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION RESERVES IN 2012 ................................................................................................. 41
CONSERVING LEPIDOPTERA ON FORESTRY COMMISSION LAND .............................................................................................. 44
THE STATE OF BRITAIN'S LARGER MOTHS 2013...................………………..……………………………………………………..….……………….………………………………45
LANDSCAPE SCALE CONSERVATION REPORT………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..…………………………..……46
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION PUBLICITY REVIEW .................................................................................................................. 47
6.7
THE MOTH CHALLENGE FUND (SUPPORTED BY THE PATSY WOOD TRUST)…………………………..…………………………….……48
7
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................. 48
APPENDIX A – LIST OF UK BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN PRIORITY LEPIDOPTERA SPECIES .............................................. 61
Davis, A.M. & Parsons, M.S. (eds.) (2013) Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 12: April
2012 – March 2013, Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S1318)
1
Introduction
As with previous editions, Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin summarises the wide ranging work being
undertaken to conserve Britain’s moths and butterflies. However, a summary of this nature cannot be
all-inclusive. Butterfly Conservation has conservation staff based in offices in England, Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland, employs a series of Regional staff and runs several landscape based projects.
This bulletin concentrates on the work of these staff and projects. Also, although primarily covered
through other newsletters and reports, we include brief coverage of Butterfly Conservation’s significant
recording and monitoring schemes, the Moths Count project (incorporating the National Moth
Recording Scheme, see www.mothscount.org), the Butterflies for the New Millennium project and the
UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. We also go beyond our shores and include an update on Butterfly
Conservation Europe.
From 2000 onwards we have produced one Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin a year, publishing this
around April in advance of the main field season, with the exception of 2008 when we produced our
Conservation Review: 2000-2008. The circulation of this Bulletin includes, amongst others, County
Moth Recorders, Butterfly Conservation Branch Moth Officers, Branch Conservation Officers,
representatives of partner organisations and the main offices of the governmental conservation
agencies. In an effort to reduce costs, but also to increase circulation, we now distribute the Bulletin
electronically and it will also be available as a download on the Butterfly Conservation website
(www.butterfly-conservation.org). This all helps to ensure a much wider and raised profile for moth and
butterfly conservation. Please publicise this Bulletin in any newsletter or group you are involved with.
The year 2012/13 has again been one of significant challenges. It was another year of poor weather,
perhaps even more so than the previous summer, with long periods of cool, wet conditions. In the
previous financial year we suffered a substantial cut in government funding, resulting in a loss of two
staff from the core conservation team based at Lulworth. The charity is also having to source matchfunding for many grants, where funding rates have often been reduced to 50%.
As we mentioned last year, this situation is not sustainable in the longer term and considerable effort
has been made to raise funds from other sources, for example through the Landfill tax scheme. During
the current financial year we have been successful in gaining Landfill funding for work on the Large
Blue Phengaris arion and Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina in the Cotswolds, Silver-studded Blue
Plebejus argus and Lunar Yellow Underwing Noctua orbona on the Ipswich Heaths and the Betony
Case-bearer Coleophora wockeella Whilst we hope to retain some flexibility, this more project based
approach is likely to impact on what we can achieve as staff resources are concentrated on fewer
species. Also, whilst supported by a fund-raising team, much time is invested in raising funds and
putting bids together, taking further resources away from our conservation efforts. Outside the core
conservation team, Butterfly Conservation has maintained the conservation staffing levels in all areas
in 2012/2013, including in our national offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For many moth
projects countrywide we are grateful to the Patsy Wood Trust who have provided a grant this year, and
for the next two years at least, which will go some way to providing at least part of the match funding
requirement for many projects. In February 2013 we launched the Moth Challenge Fund (supported by
the Patsy Wood Trust ), a fund we hope to build on. Further details of this fund are covered within this
Bulletin (see p.48). As ever, we are determined to continue to focus efforts on our threatened species
and their habitats.
2012 has been another significant year for publications (see the Bibliography at the end of this
Bulletin). The Field Guide to the Micro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland (by P. Sterling, M. Parsons &
R. Lewington) has been well received. This book aims to make micro-moths more accessible and
encourage their recording. Following the micro-moth theme, the Smaller Moths of Surrey (by R.M.
Palmer, J. Porter and G.A. Collins) has been produced complementing the earlier Larger Moths of
Surrey. J. Bebbington et al have published the Macro-moth Distribution Atlas 2011 for Somerset (Vicecounties 5 & 6). These county lists are not only valuable snapshots in time, but will also become
important historical documents. Further demonstrating the growing interest in moths, Moths of Great
Britain and Ireland (by S. Clancy, M. Top-Jensen & M. Fibiger) give photographs of moths in both their
1
resting posture and with the wings spread (as set specimens so that hindwing characters are clear). At
the European level Moths of Europe. Volume 3. Zygaenids, Pyralids 1 (by P. Leraut) is the third volume
of this handy sized series, whilst, after a gap of a few years, Volume 3 of The Geometrid Moths of
Europe has been published. Not only is this an important reference series, this volume is notable as
genetic information from DNA barcoding has been included for the majority of species – a glimpse of
the future.
Finally, Butterfly Conservation was involved in two important launches. Firstly BC produced the
Landscape-scale conservation for butterflies and moths; lessons from the UK, launching this at the
House of Commons in late 2012. This publication covers a series of landscape scale projects from
across the country, with a Foreword by Sir John Lawton. At the beginning of February 2013 BC, with
Rothamsted Research, launched the second State of Britain’s Larger Moths, this including analysis of
the data from the Rothamsted Insect Survey, updating the 2006 report. Both received widespread
publicity.
If you have any comments on this Bulletin we would of course be pleased to hear from you. As this
Bulletin is now only distributed electronically, please ensure we have been provided with an up-to date
email address. For further information on the work of Butterfly Conservation please see our website
www.butterfly-conservation.org.
Mark Parsons, Head of Moth Conservation ([email protected]), Dr. Nigel Bourn,
Director of Conservation ([email protected]) & Richard Fox Moths Count Project
Manager/Surveys Manager ([email protected]). Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard,
East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP.
2
Acknowledgments
Butterfly Conservation is grateful for the continued support of the Government Agencies and their
nominated officers: Natural England (Jon Curson), Natural Resources Wales (formerly Countryside
Council for Wales) (Adrian Fowles), Scottish Natural Heritage (Athayde Tonhasca) and Northern
Ireland Environment Agency (Richard Weyl).
It would be impossible to thank all the individuals and organisations associated with the projects
highlighted in this and previous Bulletins, but nevertheless, we would like to take this opportunity to
express our gratitude to everyone who has made this work possible. Particular thanks are due to the
County Moth Recorders, BMN Local Co-ordinators, Transect Co-ordinators, Butterfly Conservation
Branch Moth and Conservation Officers, organisers of local moth groups, contractors and the many
other individuals who have contributed time and expertise, for example by supporting the Moths Count
project and assisting with individual conservation projects, and to the various partner organisations,
site managers and land owners for their input and assistance to the various projects and initiatives.
Without your help only a fraction of the projects covered by these Bulletins would have been possible.
Finally we would like to thank all the contributors to this Bulletin, and those that have made the various
projects possible, both for their contributions and for their continued efforts to conserve Britain’s moths
and butterflies.
Mark Parsons, Head of Moth Conservation ([email protected]), Dr. Nigel Bourn,
Director of Conservation ([email protected]) & Richard Fox Moths Count Project
Manager/Surveys Manager ([email protected]).
3
Conservation action for UK Biodiversity Action Plan Lepidoptera
Highlights of work carried out on selected UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species are provided
below. Species protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act are also covered within
this section. Much of the work reported in this section was undertaken as part of The Action for
Butterflies & Moths Projects, however, a large number of UK BAP species are also targeted by our
landscape scale project work (reported within the regional sections). The terms Section 41, Section
42 and the Scottish Biodiversity List are becoming more frequently used. The Natural Environment
and Rural Communities (NERC) Act came into force in 2006 and requires the publishing of a list of
2
habitats and species which are of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England
and Wales, these are the Section 41 and Section 42 lists respectively. Both lists incorporate UK BAP
species. The Scottish Biodiversity List, which again includes UK BAP species, is produced by the
Scottish Government and is a list of those habitats and species of prime importance to the
conservation of Scotland’s biodiversity.
Butterfly Conservation’s (BC) work is funded by a wide range of funding partners, including Natural
England (NE), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Northern Ireland
Environment Agency, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Countdown 2010, SITA Trust, WREN, Biffa Award,
the Tubney Charitable Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Patsy Wood Trust, Forestry Commission
England, Forestry Commission Wales and Forestry Commission Scotland and individual donors.
Appendix A gives a full list of Lepidoptera listed under the UK BAP (excluding ‘Research only’
species).
3.1
Update on UK BAP moths – a summary for the year 2012
Summaries by Mark Parsons, Tony Davis, John Hooson, Graham Jones and Tom Prescott.
Highlights of work carried out on selected UK BAP Priority moths are provided below. Further work on
UK BAP moths is also reported in section 4. As will be seen from the accounts below, the weather
clearly played its part in 2012, impacting on survey and monitoring work on a range of species.
Factsheets for many of the species covered below are available as downloads from the Butterfly
Conservation (BC) website (www.butterfly-conservation.org).
Agonopterix atomella
Searches have been undertaken for the larvae of this Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria feeding
species at several sites this year, with the species found over four fields on a known Dorset site (with
the potential for it to be found in a further two fields). In addition, larvae were discovered on a site in
north Dorset, this farmland site supporting several other UK BAP moths and butterflies. There are
other sites in the area that support the foodplant and searches of these are planned in 2013. A
search was also made of a Wiltshire site, following the recording of an adult in 2011. A few larvae
were found on a restricted part of this downland site, an SSSI.
Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata
In early July, Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset, was visited with the intention of trialling a monitoring
technique for larval counts. The moth occurs over a reasonably wide area on the reserve in various
fields, these providing suitable compartments. Four fields were selected and timed larval searches
were undertaken, two fields being surveyed for 45 minutes each and two smaller fields searched for
30 minutes each. In total 47 larvae were found. It is hoped this technique will be repeated next year
and in subsequent years by volunteers, perhaps through the Recorders of the Avalon Marshes
(RoAM) project, and will also include monitoring the nearby Catcott Heath Somerset Wildlife Trust
reserve. Part of Shapwick Heath is now actively managed by Natural England (NE) for the Argent &
Sable, this involving scrub clearance, mainly through volunteer effort, and maintaining a range of age
classes of the main larval foodplant at the site, Bog Myrtle Myrica gale.
In Wales, larval searches were undertaken for the first time at the Cors Goch site in Merionethshire,
where the species was discovered in 2010. The survey was carried out in early August and a total of
19 larvae were found in spinnings on Bog Myrtle, confirming this species as the foodplant at the site.
Most larvae were in a small area of the bog adjacent to a conifer plantation, suggesting that shelter is
important for this species at this otherwise open site.
Barberry Carpet Pareulype berberata
(Schedule 5 Wildlife & Countryside Act species)
A small army of specialist volunteers and BC staff undertook an extensive survey of this species in
the late summer/early autumn of 2012. At least 11 sites in Wiltshire, five sites in Northamptonshire,
two sites in Suffolk and single sites in each of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Dorset and
3
Cambridgeshire were surveyed, some of these sites including sub-sites. Whilst a few of the sites
have never been known to support the moth, all extant and several former sites were surveyed.
During 2012 larvae were found at six sites, several of these with fairly extensive populations, with
Barberry Berberis vulgaris bushes found more widely than was previously thought. However, it was
not found at three sites where it has been seen recently (one last seen in 2009 and at the other two it
was last seen in 2011), despite the habitat looking suitable. Further surveys will be planned at these
sites in 2013.
Disappointingly no larvae were found at the Cholderton Estate on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border
following a release of larvae in 2011, and an additional release was undertaken. A further
introduction was finally undertaken at the Ashton Keynes Millenium Green site, this a site where
bushes that formerly supported the moth were relocated in 2001 following development work, with
other bushes planted at the Green subsequently. A press release by the Cotswolds Water Park
Trust, with the assistance of BC, followed this introduction, the story being picked up by several local
papers and radio.
Another strand in the conservation of this species is the establishment of Barberry bushes and it is
pleasing to report the inclusion of the planting of 100 Barberry bushes in a new Higher Level
Stewardship agreement on a farm adjacent to an extant site. This planting will take place over the
next two years. Plans are underway to plant around 150 bushes in Dorset, partly on the extant site,
but also on a neighbouring site. We are currently fund-raising to bring this project to fruition.
Belted Beauty Lycia zonaria britannica
A total of 53 adults were counted along the transect, co-ordinated by Stephen Palmer, at the
Lancashire site, this being walked on five occasions in 2012 when the moth was present. A peak
transect count of 25 (six males and 19 females) was made on the 29 March, down on the peak of
2011 (40 adults). After extensive tidal inundation at the site on the 9 April, only one male and three
females were counted on the 11 April, with numbers picking up slightly later in April.
A potential offshore wind farm threatens to cause damage to this site through the routing of cables.
BC has worked closely with NE who have reminded the developers that the site is protected under
the Morecambe Bay SAC, SSSI and RAMSAR, also highlighting the significance of the Belted Beauty
population. Stephen Palmer of the local branch, with help from Graham Jones (BC), has liaised with
the various organisations involved, including attending public consultation meetings and submitting
comments as part of the consultation process, ensuring all are aware of the importance of this Belted
Beauty population. Graham also undertook a site meeting with representatives, including an
ecologist, from the development company to explain the requirements of the moth and its importance
nationally.
Just a single male was seen at the North Wales site towards the end of the flight period, whilst the
species has not been seen at the second England site, Meols Common in Cheshire, since 2010
despite searches.
Black-veined Moth Siona lineata
(Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act)
The monitoring results, a combination of transects and timed counts, demonstrated a slight recovery
in numbers over 2011. The moth is still thought to be resident on seven localities that are sufficiently
separated to be regarded as discrete colonies, the majority of these are managed for conservation
purposes through agri-environment schemes or as a National Nature Reserve. This total, however,
hides the loss of one former site as almost all suitable breeding habitat was lost on this site in 2011
and that situation largely remained in 2012. This habitat was degraded following the dry spring of
2011 combined with uncontrolled grazing by livestock and rabbits. Against this was the confirmation
of another colony nearby, with 13 adults being recorded, following the single adult seen in 2011.
The moth was again not recorded at a further site, where there was a small colony between 2006
and 2009, despite the habitat looking ideal for the moth, although the largely northerly aspect may be
a factor in this. At another site, which has been divided into two compartments, a gate had
accidentally been left open which led to grazing pressure in the wrong compartment. Although the
moth was seen in reasonable numbers here, the total represented a slight decline. This species
4
requires a delicate balancing act to maintain suitable breeding conditions, with unfavourable weather
conditions, rabbit grazing, inappropriate grazing by cattle and scrub invasion all being threats. This
incident clearly demonstrates the fragility of many of the sites for this moth.
The survey and monitoring during 2012 was undertaken by Sean Clancy under a contract from BC.
Bright Wave Idaea ochrata
This moth is now known to occur on three main habitat types: early succession, vegetated sand
and/or shingle; early succession or reverted links golf-course rough/dry grassland; and sparsely
vegetated, dry, waste ground. A total of 260 moths were recorded during the course of the 2012
monitoring programme (a combination of timed counts and transects), this down from 443 in 2011 but
at a similar level to the 2010 total (265) and up on the totals of 2008 and 2009. No further sites were
discovered, despite a search of one potential site, whilst the inland colony at Stodmarsh NNR first
located in 2010 gave a 30-minute timed count total of 25, compared to at least 34 in 2011. At this
site, the only leguminous plant growing in any frequency is Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus
corniculatus, with adult associations with this plant again apparent in 2012. This raises the possibility
that this is the larval foodplant at this site.
An outstanding planning permission remains on part of one of the sites for this moth, this possibly
also supporting the Sussex Emerald Thalera fimbrialis. A consultation process is underway and
mitigation for any building is being considered to minimise the impact on these species.
The survey and monitoring during 2012 was undertaken by Sean Clancy under a contract from BC.
Coleophora vibicella
At the species’ national stronghold in West Sussex, numbers remained very high in one field, with
over 700 larval cases being counted in one hour. Six cases could be found in an adjacent field which
has been subject to illegal heavy grazing over the last two years, showing that recolonisation is
starting to take place.
At a Hampshire site which has been subject to over-grazing in recent years, 202 larval cases were
found in a one-hour timed count which is a significant increase on the 66 in 2011 and perhaps
reflects reduced grazing pressure. Cases were also found at a recently discovered site in Hampshire
but difficulties with access mean that any management to maintain the habitat will be extremely
difficult.
The Dorset site could not be monitored in 2012 due to access issues.
Coleophora wockeella
A two hour search of the sole site in March resulted in six cases found in four areas, although none
were seen in the main colony site which had been heavily brushcut, making searching difficult.
However, several cherry trees have been removed from part of this area, with scrub and Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum also removed, resulting in more open conditions than in recent years. In another
area one case was found on a verge that had clearly been swiped by a flail over the winter.
BC put together a bid together to undertake further work on this species and a conditional grant offer
has been made by Biffa Award. This is planned to cover practical habitat management at the sole UK
site for this moth. This will also include experiments to determine the best techniques for promoting
Betony Betonica officinalis, the larval foodplant. Surveys and habitat assessments will be carried out
at a minimum of ten other sites in the West Weald of Sussex and Surrey in order to determine
whether any further populations remain undetected and to attempt to find a suitable site for a
possible future introduction.
Dark Bordered Beauty Epione vespertaria
A transect is regularly walked at the England site throughout the flight season by Terry Crawford and
David Baker, and it was clearly a difficult year for the species. The adult flight period started and
5
finished later than most recent years, with the numbers of Dark Bordered Beauty reduced across the
whole transect. A peak in numbers was hardly apparent, with the highest count being seven
(compared to 18 in 2011, although this was 98 in 2007). Sections of the transect had large patches of
the larval foodplant, Creeping Willow Salix repens, in 2007, but in 2012 it was hard to find on at least
three of these. One section partly suffered a burn in winter 2009/2010 and plants outside the burn are
mostly low-growing and small. It is suspected that tall, emergent plants are favoured by ovipositing
females. Given the concern about the state of the Creeping Willow on the site, consideration is being
given to mapping the distribution and quality of the plant. If this is undertaken, it will provide a
baseline which could be compared to any future surveys.
Hannah Foster, a University of Leeds student, repeatedly walked three short transects at 30 minute
intervals from dawn to late morning, finding a large window for peak flight, from about 07.30 to
08.50hrs. This backs up earlier evidence of an early morning peak flight some time after dawn.
Despite the low numbers of moths, Hannah observed three males showing directional flight followed
by competition for access to a female low in the vegetation. This suggests that assembling of males
to virgin females might be used to test for presence on potential sites.
As a result of a First Transpennine Express Green Grant, a volunteer day was held on 20 July, with
seven people attending (two previous events were cancelled due to the bad weather). Sixteen male
Dark Bordered Beauty were seen. One volunteer took Creeping Willow cuttings to determine if these
can be easily propagated and planted to parts of the site with little or no foodplant.
In June there was evidence of heavy grazing of a nature not seen in previous years, with areas
trampled to mud. At a subsequent conservation meeting, involving NE and the Ministry of Defence, it
was agreed that cattle grazing will not occur again in this part of the Common (at least in the short
term). Also at this meeting, restoration work on an overgrown fire break planned for 2013 was
discussed. It was highlighted that this is near a hot-spot for the moth and care would be needed
during its restoration.
In Scotland all known colonies were monitored and eleven potential sites were surveyed, covering
Badenoch & Strathspey, Deeside and Sutherland. This was undertaken primarily by volunteers Tony
Mainwood and Nick Picozzi, but also Pete Moore and Colin Campbell from RSPB, the latter as a
sabbatical project. In Deeside it was a late season, estimated around two weeks late. Adults were
found in eight out of ten clearings monitored. The highest clearing count was nine (five in 2011) with
other counts being nine, three and two, the remaining being singles. A volunteer work party is
planned in April 2013 to clear scrub from one of the occupied sites whilst negotiations are still ongoing with a farmer about implementing a suitable grazing regime to benefit the moth at another
occupied site. In Sutherland five sites were surveyed but despite suitable habitat no Dark Bordered
Beauty were recorded. These sites were being surveyed after having been alerted to an old
specimen bearing a label, Sutherland. At Insh Marshes light trapping by Colin Campbell found two
females and three males at the main colony but also single males in each of three different clearings
away from the colony, giving a total of eight adults altogether. Elsewhere at the Strathspey site, light
trapping during the flight period at all clearings produced only one male.
A meeting was held with the University of the Highlands and Islands to help identify research
requirements to help guide the conservation of Dark Bordered Beauty that their students, or others,
could undertake.
The Highland Aspen Group (HAG) has continued the propagation of Aspen Populus tremula of local
provenance with the aim of planting trees out this spring at sites close to known Dark Bordered
Beauty sites in Badenoch and Strathspey to enhance the Aspen resource. BC Scotland work closely
with a range of organisations on this species, actions being co-ordinated by a Steering Group,
including representatives from the RSPB, Cairngorms National Park Authority, HAG, Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH) and Coille Alba.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of resources, no surveys were undertaken in the Borders and
Northumberland to follow up earlier records. We would like to take this opportunity to encourage
surveys of these areas to try to locate as yet undiscovered populations.
The RSPB are thanked for their continued financial support of the work on this moth.
6
Dingy Mocha Cyclophora pendularia
The annual larval survey was again undertaken in 2012 in Dorset and the New Forest in the late
summer. As for many other species, the year was clearly a poor one, almost certainly due to the poor
weather conditions during the flight period, although inappropriate management or a lack of young
sallow Salix growth may be having an impact on this species on some sites.
Rather surprisingly, no larvae were found in north Dorset, where three sites were surveyed (two known
to support the species). Additionally, no larvae were found in the New Forest (five sites surveyed),
where this species can be difficult to locate, although we are aware of a couple of adults being recorded
at one of the survey sites earlier in the year. No larvae were again found in Purbeck south of Wareham,
although only Studland was surveyed. Elsewhere on the heaths in Dorset, larvae were found at seven
sites, covering five 10km squares. All are known sites for the species, with ten sites being surveyed in
total. Survey effort for this species has been considerably impacted by the reduction in resources in
2011, which continued into 2012, with many potential sites not surveyed. However, over the course of
the survey about 330 sallows were sampled.
We continue to work closely with the Forestry Commission, Dorset Wildlife Trust, the local BC branch
and private landowners who own and manage sites for this moth to provide suitable conditions. There
are still issues, for example at one site, the roadside verges, which support habitat for the moth, were
again mown to provide a line of sight for drivers now that grazing livestock have been introduced.
A day was spent with a member of the National Trust’s (NT) Biological Survey Team, to demonstrate
how to find the species and what habitat conditions to look for, to encourage further survey for this
moth.
Drab Looper Minoa murinata
An adult count at Hendre Woods, Monmouthshire, in late May produced only 16 Drab Looper,
compared with 58 when the count was last done in 2010. Seven Drab Looper were also recorded
elsewhere in the wood in 2012. Habitat management at the site was carried out over the winter by
Forestry Commission Wales and BC volunteers, with the focus on opening up rides and creating
scallops, to enable greater mobility of the moth within the wood. Only one Drab Looper was recorded
elsewhere in Monmouthshire in 2012, in the Angidy Valley, Tintern, suggesting it was a poor year for
the species in Wales.
Brief surveys were undertaken for the species in Dorset and parts of south Wiltshire with the moth
being recorded from at least one and three sites respectively. Two of the Wiltshire sites are probably
new for the species, one in an area that has recently been opened up by the Forestry Commission.
Elsewhere we have received reports that the species was found in Hampshire, a minimum of three sites
in Sussex (at least one being new), three sites in Berkshire (one a new site), and from two new sites,
amongst others, in Gloucestershire, with one found in Kent. The moth was also recorded at a light trap
in the West Midlands in late July.
Eudarcia richardsoni
On Portland, Dorset, two projects are currently underway to control invading Cotoneaster, one led by
the Dorset Wildlife Trust, the other largely in the Church Ope Cove area and co-ordinated by Plantlife.
As part of these projects we have established several monitoring sites for this endemic moth. An initial
survey was undertaken in late May/early June along the coastal strip and weares on Portland, with five
areas searched (comprising c.25 subsites), these guided by the proposed management plan giving
areas to be targeted for removal of Cotoneaster. Several of these subsites had no potential habitat for
the moth, although five subsites were identified as monitoring sites, with seven larval cases found
during this initial assessment. A further three monitoring sites which are currently free of Cotoneaster
will be identified early in 2013, bringing the total to eight sites. At each of these a fifteen minute search
will be undertaken for larval cases (found by turning stones over) and a count taken. If no case is found
this search will be extended to 25 minutes or until a case is found (whichever is soonest). This
methodology should give a crude measure of population density. It is hoped that this monitoring will be
undertaken in the years to come and compared year on year.
7
Additional searches for cases were undertaken earlier in the year, with ten cases found in about 3hrs
searching in January, seven found during 100 minutes searching in February and 16 found in March in
a 95 minute search. Fifteen areas were surveyed over these three visits, with the moth found at ten of
these.
Fiery Clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis
(Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act)
Monitoring of the number of eggs was carried out at all known sites. The cold, wet weather in early
summer would be expected to have had a catastrophic effect on this species but a brief warm and dry
spell at the end of May may have allowed the species to breed successfully. In south Kent a substantial
decline occurred at the one remaining strong population and the extinction of the moth in this area
seems imminent. The one piece of good news in this area is that an adult and one egg were found at
the inland site discovered in 2010 so this colony has managed to persist, albeit at a low level.
The situation in north Kent was somewhat better, with two of the three established colonies showing
significant increases. The new site found in 2010 on a beach where the Environment Agency had
carried out major restocking works, continues to thrive and is by far the strongest colony in the UK now.
The number of eggs at three other recently discovered sites also showed significant increases and a
new colony was discovered to the west of all previously known sites, indicating further range expansion
in north Kent.
Forester Adscita statices
A brief survey was undertaken of this moth on a site in north Dorset with 16 seen in mid June over
four different fields of this damp grassland site. Drop disc measurements were taken where the moth
was found, with the average vegetation height over the four fields being between 20.1 - 22.85cm.
The moth was seen nectaring on Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum and Marsh Thistle C. palustre.
Four moths were seen at a second known Dorset site, this a downland locality. Here the drop disc
measurements gave an average vegetation height of 15.9cms, one individual was seen on a
Creeping Thistle C. arvense flower.
We have also received reports of the moth from known sites in Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire,
Gloucestershire, Somerset, Suffolk, Norfolk, Lancashire (found in four separate 1km squares on one
area, with a peak count of 21), Co. Durham and Argyll, and from a new site in each of Sussex and
Radnorshire.
Grapholita pallifrontana
We have been made aware of several records of this moth, which is associated with Wild Liquorice
Astragalus glycyphyllos, during 2012, with records from three sites in Bedfordshire, one in
Northamptonshire and four in Worcestershire. In Wiltshire a former site was searched, but the
foodplant could not be found and has probably been lost, however, the moth was located at what is
thought to be a new site. Searches of known sites in Herefordshire failed to find the species.
A search was made of one site in Dorset, a county without a previous record of the species. However,
the plant was in small quantities and was being smothered by Bracken, consequently it was felt this
was unsuitable for the moth. Meanwhile a search at a site in Somerset (another county where the
moth has not been recorded) with a large quantity of the foodplant along a hedge-lined lane resulted
in no adult being found. A search for larvae later in the year resulted in a few matching the larval
description, although it will not be until next year before we can confirm the identity of these.
Searches were also undertaken of former sites for the moth near Bury in West Sussex, but none were
found and the best area of foodplant is mown, and the cuttings removed, each autumn when larvae
would still be in the seedpods.
We would like to encourage searches for this species, both in the adult and larval stages. A possible
approach could be to contact the relevant county botanical recorder or Local Records Centre to ask
for site data relating to the foodplant. If searches are made we would like to know of successful
searches or localities supporting quantities of the foodplant which could merit future searches.
8
Marsh Mallow Moth Hydraecia osseola hucherardi
Nocturnal monitoring of the moth was again undertaken in September 2012 at various sites on
Romney Marsh, Kent/East Sussex. This entailed undertaking torchlight transects at four sites, whilst
all potential habitat was surveyed at a fifth site. Three additional areas were surveyed, two of these
habitat creation sites (where blocks of foodplant have been planted to encourage the moth).
Numbers of the moth showed a slight increase in numbers and represented the highest total
recorded since 2006, with numbers at the three Sussex sites increasing, whilst the two Kent colonies
fared less well, with none seen at one of these (the first time since it was discovered in 2001).
However, two individuals were found at one of the additional sites surveyed, this representing an
extension to one of the extant sites.
At one site, during a late August visit, it was clear that an electric fence protecting the foodplant beds
from cattle had not been working, resulting in trampling and grazing damage. This had been rectified
by the time of a follow-up site visit with the grazier and NE a few days later and no further damage
had been caused to the foodplant beds. During this visit a new area of potentially suitable breeding
habitat was also located.
A degree student placed data loggers at a number of the locations to record temperature and
humidity in September as part of a final year dissertation on aspects of the Marsh Mallow Moth
ecology. It is hoped her results will be available in due course.
Away from Romney Marsh, we are only aware of a single record of the moth at a Medway colony,
despite two visits by Ian Ferguson. Sean Clancy undertook survey and monitoring of this species on
Romney Marsh in 2012 under a contract from BC.
Marsh Moth Athetis pallustris
Work on this species has been co-ordinated by Dr Paul Waring in 2012. Fifty-seven were recorded
on the Rimac portion of the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, Lincolnshire, on 31 May,
indicating that the population was in a reasonable shape at the start of the season. However, the
larval monitoring undertaken on 13 September found the population density substantially down in
numbers following the poor weather encountered over the summer. Fifteen larvae were found in the
standard 12 litter pile array at Rimac, compared to 76 in 2011. Again, none were found at the
traditional breeding area at Seaview, where larvae were formerly numerous in the 1980s and early
1990s and where the last one was recorded on 10 October 2003. Prior to 2012, the adult moth was
last seen at Seaview on 26 May 2005.
Unfortunately no larvae were found in the litter pile array at the introduction site just to the north of
Seaview in 2012, but where two had been recorded in each of 2010 and 2011, following the release
of 20 larvae in September 2009. This introduction site was formerly a field growing cereal crops but
which has been reclaimed and converted back to potential habitat over the last decade. However,
one adult male was light-trapped just over the hedge from the establishment field on 31 May, in the
Seaview field, and it is considered this probably originated from the introduction site. The Seaview
field has gradually turned into a swamp in recent years. This is probably due to silting up of the
drainage and to the growth in height of a nearby shelterbelt of trees. The sward in this traditional
breeding area now appears too tall and lush and would seem unsuitable for the Marsh Moth. It
always exceeds 10cm in height by September, as measured by the Boorman drop-disc method, in
contrast to the breeding area at Rimac, which is generally much less than 10cm tall.
A single male was also recorded at Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire, in 2012, on 1 June by a team
of volunteers led by the Lincolnshire County Moth Recorder Colin Smith. This confirms the continued
presence of this moth on this reserve, the only other known site for the species in the British Isles.
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus
A workshop on the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth was held at two sites on Dartmoor, Devon,
being run by Dr Barry Henwood and BC staff. The event was targeted at existing volunteers who
already record Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia which can occur in similar habitats to the moth,
thereby maximising the data collected whilst they are out surveying. The event was well attended (17
9
participants) and several Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth were recorded.
The Two Moors Project Officer provides habitat management advice and support in carrying out
required works on farms across Dartmoor and Exmoor. Management advice and support has been
offered this year to 38 of the Dartmoor Marsh Fritillary sites, and of these ten are known to support
the moth. The type of support ranges from offering advice on appropriate grazing (stocking levels,
timing etc.) to help with accessing funding through agri-environment schemes to carry out required
works (scrub control, fencing, etc). Practical management is planned on six of these sites in the
coming winter. Last winter (2011/12) scrub control was carried out across all ten sites by contractors
or volunteers, with a total area cleared of around 3ha.
During the year we also received reports of the moth from Dorset, Wiltshire and Avon, and in
Scotland from Argyll (including 2 new sites), East Inverness (including a new site), West Inverness
(including a new site), Moray, and Mull (a new site), with larvae found at a site in East Ross.
Netted Carpet Eustroma reticulatum
John Hooson (NT) and Graham Jones (BC) report on the continued success of Netted Carpet
conservation in the Lake District and north Lancashire. The increasing scale of the annual monitoring
task means that a large band of enthusiastic, sharp-eyed volunteer surveyors (including BC
members) is essential, and this year’s count could not have been completed without their help.
Taking place from 6 - 10 September the monitoring focus was on the suite of cattle-grazed woods
near Coniston, the re-introduction sites at Derwentwater, the north Lancashire locations, Muncaster
Castle in south-west Cumbria, and the close network of sites near Windermere town.
Despite the apparent impact of a cool, wet summer in delaying larval development by perhaps a
fortnight, resulting in many difficult-to-spot early instars, the counts showed that Netted Carpet has
had a pretty good year. At Coniston the overall total larval count of 892 was 15% up on 2011. This
was influenced by the lack of deer grazing this year after decimation of a large stand of Touch-menot Balsam Impatiens noli-tangere in 2011. Especially encouraging was the count of 230 larvae at
Derwentwater (80% up on 2011) and the observation of further natural expansion of the moth onto
nearby balsam patches. Although geographically rather isolated, the Muncaster Castle population
remains strong, having been encouraged by the efforts of staff from the World Owl Centre. Some of
the balsam stands, complete with larvae, grow in the large owl aviaries and it’s a brave person who
stoops to count caterpillars whilst an Eagle Owl Bubo bubo watches from above!
The Lancashire sites were surveyed on 10 September and provided similarly positive results to the
Cumbrian sites. At Hyning Scout Wood the total larval count was 204, which was broadly equal to
last year’s count. While at the private site the total count was 270 - a 73% increase on the 2011
figure. This suggests that recent small scale habitat management at this site - creating ground
disturbance using vehicles - has paid off.
At Hyning Scout Wood balsam numbers had decreased by 29% on last year’s figures, to 2300.
Bramble and other aggressive perennials have begun to dominate at all the balsam sub-sites within
the woodland, and because of this a programme of habitat management, far larger than what has
been undertaken previously has been agreed with the wood’s owner, The Woodland Trust. This will
be undertaken over the winter of 2012 - 13 as part of the BC Morecambe Bay Butterfly Task Force
project.
New Forest Burnet Zygaena viciae argyllensis
(Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act)
Butterfly Conservation Scotland (BCS) volunteers assisted with both the monitoring of the adult
moths and vegetation at the UK’s sole site in Argyll in partnership with SNH. The site was visited on
five days in July with mark, release and recapture undertaken on four of them. This estimated the
population at the main site at 12,200 and for the adjacent site at 2495. Timed counts were also
undertaken with 230/hour counted on the main site and 122/hour on the adjacent site. These counts
show that the moth population was at an all time high. Vegetation data was also collected repeating
previous monitoring methodologies by sampling five fixed quadrats. This data is currently being
analysed but it seems to echo concerns that the sward is becoming too rank and some very light
10
grazing is required. There are also concerns that bracken may be encroaching in some areas. BCS
and SNH plan to raise these concerns with the owner in the coming months but the practicalities of
undertaking controlled grazing and bracken control at the site are not straight forward. Work on New
Forest Burnet is overseen by the Burnet Study Group.
Olive Crescent Trisateles emortualis
Following the discovery of 12 Olive Crescent in late June in a wood to the south of Ipswich, Suffolk,
Tony Prichard and Neil Sherman found larvae in the same wood in September, feeding on the dead
leaves of oak Quercus and Beech Fagus sylvatica. Following that success, two larvae were found in
another nearby wood on Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa. The suspicion is that this is a recent
colonisation.
Phyllonorycter sagitella & Sciota hostilis
Whilst undertaking a search for the larvae of Sciota hostilis in late July in the Orlestone Forest
complex, Kent, two mines of Phyllonorycter sagitella were found in one woodland block, a Kent
Wildlife Trust reserve. Further mines of the autumn generation were found in another part of the
complex in October. These are the first records for Kent, and apart from the recent discovery of this
species in Cambridgeshire, are the only records outside the West Midlands and North Wales. There
is clearly the possibility that this moth has been overlooked elsewhere and searches are encouraged.
Unfortunately, no confirmed S. hostilis larvae were found.
Phyllonorycter scabiosella
Part of one site in Surrey formed a viewing area for the Olympic cycle road races and was subject to
considerable visitor pressure as well as mowing to benefit visitors. Surveys for the mines of P.
scabiosella after the event found no larvae within the affected area and a thick mat of dead grass
covering most of the foodplant. The moth remains fairly common elsewhere on the site but there is
concern that further events following the Olympic route may result in repeated damage to this area.
Reddish Buff Acosmetia caliginosa
(Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act)
We have received a report that only three adults were recorded this year. However, additional survey
effort, under the auspices of the Hampshire branch of BC, which was to include looking at one or two
potential sites, was cancelled due to the appalling weather conditions, and the low count is most
likely due to the adverse weather. Site management continues under the auspices of the Hampshire
and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Scarce Pug Eupithecia extensaria
Studies of larval ecology were undertaken by an MSc student in north-west Norfolk. Initial results
showed only an association between the size of foodplant patch and presence of larvae but
unfortunately a copy of the dissertation has not been supplied by the student.
Scarce Vapourer Orgyia recens
Julian Small (NE) organised two larval search days for this species on the Humberhead Levels NNR.
Unfortunately none were found. However, during a botanical survey in early June, the team found
two larvae (one final instar and one in its penultimate instar) in an area where the species was last
found in the 1970s. One was found on sallow, the other on birch Betula, both bushes being adjacent
to small ditches. The habitat where they were found is extremely plentiful in the area with the scrub
being fairly young.
Scythris siccella
Management at a small site, the only known location for the species in the country, has involved
digging small scrapes in the autumn over the last few years to encourage the early successional
stages (on sandy soils) required by this species. Monitoring was again undertaken in 2012, involving
counts of larval tubes (and adults if seen). Forty-eight larval tubes were found, surprisingly the same
11
total as in 2011, with 27 found in the previously dug scrapes. The larval tubes were found associated
with a range of plants, although the majority were found under Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria.
In the autumn of 2012, a further 14 small scrapes were dug as the wet summer had resulted in lush
conditions, with moss and grass prevalent in places, although some of the previous years scrapes
were still visible.
Shoulder-striped Clover Heliothis maritima
No adults or larvae were found on Holt Heath, Dorset, this year, despite searches, however, the
weather conditions were frequently less than ideal when the searches could be made. In the New
Forest, early instar larvae were found at two sites through sweeping by day, these both being known
sites. Two further sites failed to produce the species, one of these being a former site. Evidence is
building that this is a species with a preference for young Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix growing
in rather open areas, i.e. with plenty of bare ground. In the New Forest these conditions are often
found following controlled burns which promote growth for grazing animals.
A day was spent with a member of NT’s Biological Survey Team, to demonstrate how to find the
species and what habitat conditions to look out for.
Silky Wave Idaea dilutaria
BC work closely with the Bristol Conservation & Science Foundation (BCSF), Bristol Zoo Gardens,
Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project, NT and NE at the sole English site for this moth in Avon
Gorge. Here, since 2010, BCSF have taken over the monitoring and survey for this species,
producing an annual report (containing a series of recommendations) which is circulated to a range
of interested parties. Transects were carried out over an eight week period, with six key sites (three
on the Bristol side, three on the Somerset side) in the Gorge being visited regularly, enabling a peak
count to be taken. Eight additional satellite sites were also surveyed throughout this period. The moth
was found at all six key sites and six satellite sites.
2012 survey counts were higher at the three Bristol side sites than in any previous year, with a peak
of 127 being noted at one site. Two of these were at sites where a small number of goats had been
introduced the previous year in an attempt to control scrub in a sustainable fashion. Dramatic scrub
reduction has been noted in these areas and it may be that the Silky Wave has benefited from this
management. However, counts were lower at the three Somerset key sites than in 2011. Habitat
management had been implemented here prior to the flight period, so it will be interesting to see if
there is a positive response in these areas in the years to come.
At one site, a quarry, adult moths were found in good numbers (with a peak of 21) where no rockrose Helianthemum is present, hinting at an alternative foodplant, with Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus being suspected as a potential hostplant.
Adult counts were not undertaken at the two Welsh sites (South Gower and Great Orme’s Head) in
2012 due to wet and windy weather throughout most of the flight season.
Slender Scotch Burnet Zygaena loti scotica
On Mull, work has focused on management as well as survey and monitoring. BC Scotland
maintained contact with all the owners of sites and potential sites, and held five on-site meetings. The
main colonies on the National Trust for Scotland’s property at the Burg on the Ardmeanach peninsula
were monitored by NTS staff and Thistle Camp volunteers in June. After a bad year in 2011, which
was possibly due to poor weather in the monitoring period, numbers in 2012 were back up to near
normal.
Elsewhere at the two newer northerly colonies (Langamull and Glemgorm) the moth was found to be
more widespread than previously thought. These were surveyed by local volunteers as well as on a
BC Highland branch Slender Scotch Burnet field trip. The moth was also refound at Kilninian for the
first time in four years. This site has been threatened through invading Cotoneaster, which has been
cleared over the last 5-6 years by both local volunteers and contractors. This rediscovery provided
12
sufficient impetus for further Cotoneaster clearance, with 20 local volunteers helping out over the
course of a weekend in September.
Work on the Slender Scotch Burnet is guided through the Burnet Study Group, which includes
specialists and representatives of organisations including SNH and the NTS.
Straw Belle Aspitates gilvaria
Fourteen sites were surveyed in Kent in late July and early August, this being a mix of known and
potential sites. However, the weather conditions were generally unfavourable, frequently being very
breezy and cool, and the moth was only located at two sites (both known sites). Encouragingly, the
turf at one key site looked in a more suitable condition than the previous two years, following
overgrazing, with several adults seen. A site meeting was held at this site with NE and the site owner
to discuss the ecology of the moth and its requirements. Interestingly, land on the adjacent holding
has been reclaimed from agricultural fields and has been seeded with downland plants. Through
management there is the possibility that this could eventually become suitable for the Straw Belle.
Unfortunately, one site where the moth had been seen in small numbers (and where there was also a
good population of Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria) had been badly overgrazed by the time of
the visit, with several Highland cattle still on the site. Needless to say no Straw Belle were seen, with
only a single Chalk Carpet located. NE was informed and is looking into this incident.
At the main Surrey site, Box Hill, there was concern over the potential impact of trampling from
spectators hoping to watch the Olympic cycling road race. Gail Jeffcoate of the Surrey BC branch
and others liaised with LOCOG and other organisations raising the profile of this (and other species)
and concern over potential trampling. As a result of invertebrate and botanical surveys commissioned
by LOCOG and much careful planning of spectator viewing points, key areas were fenced off from
the public and little evidence of encroachment was noted over the course of the Olympic events. This
effort was rewarded in August when the moth was seen here in good numbers on several occasions,
along with many Chalk Carpet. However, given the raised profile of the site there is some cause to be
concerned for future years and the potential for increased visitor pressure, although site managers
are well aware of the importance of this site for the moth. Against this positive news, the moth was
again not seen at its second Surrey location, despite several visits, it being last recorded here in
2010.
Striped Lychnis Shargacucullia lychnitis
2012 was a poor year for the Striped Lychnis, probably due to the unfavourable weather conditions
during its flight period, resulting in low numbers of larvae later in the year. It was noticeable that
several roadside verges in at least parts of its range were overgrown and rather rank at the time of
the larval searches, again the wet summer is likely to have been the cause of this lush growth.
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have been monitoring larvae of the species in an area of
north-east Hampshire. Only 20 larvae were found, the lowest total since surveys began in 2009, with
one new verge for the species contributing just over half this total. Additionally the number of spikes
of the foodplant, Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum, was the lowest recorded during these surveys.
Unfortunately some of the best roadside verges were cut in August for lines of sight for vehicle drivers
after the rapid summer growth, this undoubtedly impacting on the moth in this area.
Two students undertook studies on the moth in Hampshire and Sussex to examine the ecological
requirements of the species. Unfortunately, they also encountered low larval numbers, struggling to
find suitable study sites. However, it is thought by both that enough results were eventually collected
and we now await the results of these studies.
Sussex Emerald Thalera fimbrialis
(Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act)
BC continue to work closely with NE, EDF Energy, Magnox, RSPB and Cemex at Dungeness to
conserve this species. Forty-three larvae were found in 2012 during the monitoring over the 36
designated survey sites, this being slightly up on the total in 2011. At 30 of these sites a 30-minute
search for larvae was undertaken concentrating on the main larval foodplant, Wild Carrot Daucus
13
carota. Where this was present in insufficient quantities then the secondary larval foodplant,
Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, was searched. At three sites, searches were curtailed due to a
lack of potential foodplants. An increasing number of designated sites within part of the power
stations compound have failed to produce any records of the target species for several years, despite
holding good numbers in the early 1990s. This is thought to be due to the lack of the primary
foodplant due to an increase in the number of rabbits and subsequent overgrazing, coupled with a
lack of recent ground disturbance.
There was a decline in larval numbers in 2011, thought to be due, at least in part, to the exceptionally
dry conditions that spring. It is considered that the low numbers encountered in 2012 were a result of
the poor larval success in 2011, with counts of adults at light traps in 2011 also being low. In 2012,
84 adults were found in the area at various light-traps, this being up on the 2011 total of 58, but still
considerably down on previous years.
Following on from experimental plots on the RSPB reserve, several habitat creation plots are now in
place, with the establishment of rabbit exclosures at three localities (and one more unfenced),
including within the power stations compound. Wild Carrot has been seeded in all of these, with
monitoring during 2012 showing successful germination of Wild Carrot at three of these.
As in 2011, no larvae were found at the small site near Deal, Kent, and it is possible the drought
conditions on 2011 have resulted in the loss of this colony. However, the finding of a single adult at
nearby St Margaret’s Bay could indicate that there is still a breeding population in the area.
Sean Clancy undertook survey and monitoring of this species in 2012 under a contract from BC with
funding from EDF (British Energy) and Magnox, the habitat creation project was funded by these
companies as well as Cemex and RSPB.
White-mantled Wainscot Archanara neurica
For the first time, the moth was recorded in Norfolk. We have also received a report of a singleton of
this species at a new site in Suffolk, with six being found at a known site.
White-spotted Pinion Cosmia diffinis
What is thought to be the first modern record of the species in Lincolnshire was made in mid August.
Elsewhere the moth was recorded in Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire (at least four sites) and
Huntingdonshire.
3.2
UK BAP moth newsletter
An email newsletter covering UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority moths is sent out during the field
season providing information about when species are being seen across the country so that
recorders can also target those species in their area. To submit sightings of UK BAP moths for the
newsletter, or if you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact Tony Davis
[email protected]. (All records should also be submitted to the relevant County
Recorder as usual.)
3.3
Update on UK BAP butterflies - a summary for the year 2012
Highlights of work carried out on selected UK Biodiveristy Action Plan (BAP) butterflies is provided
below. Further work on UK BAP butterflies is also reported in sections 4 (regional updates) and 6
(news and notes). Factsheets for the majority of the following species can be downloaded from
www.butterfly-conservation.org/butterfliesspeciesfactsheets
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina
Declines in the number of Duke of Burgandy colonies means that there is the need for further efforts
to conserve the butterfly in the UK. Butterfly Conservation has established landscape-scale projects
in some regions, such as Dukes of the Edge in the South East and the work on the North York Moors.
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However, there has been a need to compile a national Duke of Burgundy dossier in order to target
other priority areas.
The aim of the dossier is to give a national overview of the population status of the butterfly, along
with analysis of habitat characteristics and population parameters. Compilation of the national Duke
of Burgundy site dossier involved the collation of data from many sources, including BC staff and
branch members.
A summary of the dossier results shows that since the 1980s at least 260 known colonies have
become extinct, this represents a loss of 62% of colonies. 160 colonies were still classed as extant
from 2008-2012. The extant colonies were present within fifteen counties and seventeen landscapes
in the UK. Significant populations occur on the South Downs, the Tytherley area and Salisbury Plain,
the Cotswolds also remains a stronghold. Concentrations of colonies remain in the North Kent
Downs, the North York Moors and the Chilterns.
Of the 160 remaining colonies 104 are small, 33 are medium and 19 are large colonies. The large
colonies are mainly located in the Salisbury Plain and Tytherley area of Wiltshire and Hampshire.
Most of the extant colonies are located in the south east region (47% of colonies), with colonies also
located in the south west (42%) and Northern England (9%); two colonies remain in Lincolnshire.
Grassland habitat accounts for most of the remaining colonies with 80% being grassland and 20%
woodland.
A summary of the cause of the extinctions (where this information is known) shows that extinctions
have generally been caused by a lack of management targeted for the species. This is also one of the
largest threats to extant sites, as Duke of Burgundy requires specific active management. A lack of
management on grassland sites has decreased habitat quality because of large-scale scrub or
woodland encroachment and through increasingly rank grassland reducing foodplant abundance.
Neglect of woodland is also one of the major causes of the woodland extinctions as open areas such
as rides and glades have been lost, shading out the foodplant.
Extinctions have also been caused by too much management, especially when restoring calcareous
grassland, where management involves excessive scrub clearance and increased grazing levels.
This leaves the habitat unsuitable for Duke of Burgundy and may occur when there are conflicting
management objectives such as short-turf species.
The dossier has important implications for future management as all extinct and extant Duke of
Burgundy sites within the UK were mapped. These maps, along with information from the dossier,
identify landscapes and networks which would benefit from targeted management.
Contributed by Rachel Jones, Assistant Conservation Officer, [email protected]
Heath Fritillary Melitaea athalia
The Heath Fritillary remains in the following four areas; Exmoor, Tamar & Lydford Valley, Blean
Woods and Essex. In 2012 there were a total of 42 colonies recorded across 24 sites. The numbers
recorded this year in areas other than Tamar & Lydford Valley were extremely low in comparison to
previous years. In general the weather made the conditions for surveying very difficult, for example in
Exmoor we had to cancel three dates and the actual survey was conducted in weather that was not
ideal.
The Tamar & Lydford Valley populations seem to have been the most successful at expanding their
size and occupied habitat this year. In Greenscoombe Wood, two colonies were recorded in 2012.
The medium and large colonies present have expanded in size (both small in 2010) however; a very
small colony present in 2010 and 2011 was not recorded this year. The new management regime at
Greenscoombe Wood, which began in 2009, has been successful so far with the colonisation of
recently cleared habitat. However, the overall area occupied has decreased slightly from 2.9ha in
2011 to 2.7ha in 2012 due to some areas becoming unsuitable. The amount of suitable habitat for the
Heath Fritillary has increased since 2009 due to the management funded through Higher Level
Stewardship (HLS), which is hoped to continue for the foreseeable future.
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At the BC Lydford reserve, a total of 245 adults were recorded (144 in 2011), but only two
individuals were recorded on the forest transect (one individual on two dates) in comparison to a total
of 11 recorded in 2011. Unfortunately, there were none recorded during a timed count on the
previously occupied private land.
In Exmoor, organising the formal BC staff monitoring this year was very difficult owing to the cold,
wet and windy weather during the flight period. A date was eventually set for 5 July and as well as
being three weeks past the usual ‘peak’ the weather was not entirely suitable. Only two individuals
were recorded on two of the nine sites surveyed that day. In total there were ten sites occupied with
positive records of more than one individual. However, there was good news with an Exeter
University MSc student studying Heath Fritillary habitat discovering two present at Codsend Moor, a
site where the species is thought to have been extinct since the 1990’s, and confirming the new
colonisation at Horner Wood Edge.
In 2012 the Heath Fritillary occupied six sites across the Blean Woods complex; East Blean, West
Blean & Thornden Wood (jncluding Cole Wood), Clowes Wood and Blean NNR. The total of 23
colonies recorded in 2012 across these sites was the same as in 2011.The colony sizes comprised of
six large, seven medium and six small. There were four new colonies recorded, three in West Blean
and Thornden Wood and one in East Blean. The total occupied area in the Blean Woods complex in
2012 was 37.07 ha, the largest area occupied since 1980. With the continued commitment to
creating additional habitat through coppice coupes and ride management the butterfly is likely to
remain in this landscape.
Contributed by Caroline Kelly, Conservation Officer, [email protected]
Above left: Heath Fritillary in Blean Woods complex; above centre: Cow Wheat Melampyrum
pratense; above right: pony grazing at Greenscombe Wood, Tamar Valley
Large Blue Phengaris arion
The Large Blue is currently present in two landscapes with BC led projects; Expanding the Large
Blue in the Polden Hills in Somerset and Conserving the Painswick Valley’s Rare Butterflies in the
Cotswolds. In 2012 the adult butterflies had to contend with wet, cold and windy weather interspersed
with sunny spells. However, despite the weather, the egg counts on Collard Hill were the highest ever
recorded and numbers on Green Down also increased dramatically.
The survey results from 2012 indicate that the national population of Large Blue is the largest ever
recorded. Well managed, core populations either increased or held their own whereas small
populations were vulnerable to stochastic events, like the poor weather, which did not encourage
dispersal.
In the Polden Hills the SITA funded Expanding the Large Blue in the Polden Hills project has just
over one year to run. This year, members of the Large Blue Action Group, partner organisations and
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their volunteers have met on each other’s sites to carry out the conservation works of scrub
management and Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus planting. This year there have been 10 days of
volunteers managing approximately 1ha of scrub on a total of five sites (three Somerset Wildlife Trust
and two National Trust) and 11 volunteer days thyme planting, with a total of 3879 plants planted
(see also 4.7.3). In the Cotswolds, two introductions were made with funding made available from the
BBC Wildlife Fund. Local BC Gloucestershire volunteers were given the opportunity to accompany
David Simcox and Sarah Meredith as they released caterpillars onto one site and were able to watch
them being adopted by the red ant Myrmica sabuleti. It is hoped that the Conserving the Painswick
Valley’s Rare Butterflies will enable new habitat to be restored and that natural colonisations will
occur at some point in the future.
In both landscapes targeted management is driven by the findings of detailed habitat surveys which
are undertaken by specialist contractors David Simcox and Sarah Meredith who also advise site
managers, landowners and regional Natural England staff. Development work in three other regions
has continued creating the opportunities for landscape-scale projects to be developed in the future.
Contributed by Caroline Kelly, Conservation Officer, [email protected]
Above: BC, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Langport Explorer and Scout group planting Thyme in the Aller Hills
Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia
BC’s long-term monitoring of the Dorset sites continued during 2012, with six of the seven sites
visited in late summer using the standard techniques; either a transect sample or a full survey of all
suitable habitat, depending on site size.
The results were very disappointing this year with larval webs only recorded at three of the monitored
sites. No larval webs were found at Deadmoor Common, Lydlinch Common or Hod Hill. The results
for Lydlinch Common and Hod Hill are concerning as these sites generally support good populations
of the species and these results are probably due to the very wet season and it is expected that the
species is still present at these sites. The poor weather during the flight period will probably have
affected female mating and egg laying opportunities and egg survival. Prolonged wet weather in late
summer can cause larval webs to disintegrate and be much less obvious. Larval webs may have
been more difficult to locate on sites but with experienced observers this shouldn’t have been a major
factor. Management regimes at most sites have been maintained as it would be premature to make
any changes due to the impact on numbers caused by the weather apart from where increased grass
growth has been a problem.
Encouragingly, numbers at Powerstock are higher than in 2011, and demonstrates a response by the
species to the work by Dorset Wildlife Trust, with BC’s advice, to adjust the grazing for the needs of
this species.
Following the publication of our conservation report on the status of the Marsh Fritillary in Dorset from
1985 to 2010 the work has been further promoted through inclusion as one of 12 evidence-based
case studies in our landscape-scale report (Ellis et al., 2012) demonstrating the effectiveness of a
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well-designed agri-environment scheme.
Contributed by Dr Caroline Bulman, Senior Species Ecologist, [email protected]
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne
In 2010 a co-ordinated survey for Pearl-bordered Fritillary was undertaken in the south-west in the
counties of Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall. The aim of this survey was to assess the status of
this declining species and was a regional continuation from a nationwide survey conducted in 2004.
Results of the 2010 survey showed a 31% decline in the numbers of extant colonies since 1997, but
declines had slowed since 2004. Despite declines, 22 new colonies were recorded across the three
counties in 2010. Declines in the numbers of colonies shown by the analysis in 2010 highlighted the
need for further work on the Pearl-bordered Fritillary to assess other regional trends. The first stage
of this is the compilation of the English Pearl-bordered Fritillary site dossier which will display data
collected in south-west in 2010 survey, along with data from other regions in England, to provide an
indication of trends at a larger scale.
Details were collected from other BC staff on extant and extinct colonies in the West Midlands
(including the Wyre Forest, Owestry Uplands and Herefordshire Commons), northern England
(including Morecambe Bay Limestones and North York Moors) and from the south east England
colonies. Dossier pages for the regions are still being produced, so summary results are not yet
available. Once data collection is complete a dossier of all known English colonies will be produced.
The dossier will provide information for each site describing; habitat type, habitat condition and
management, along with a site map and general site information. Data will be input into a main
spreadsheet allowing analysis and summaries of extant and extinct sites. This information can be
compared to the results from the last Pearl-bordered Fritillary dossier completed in 1997 to analyse
any significant changes. The aim of the dossier is to assist in targeting management, provide
information, summarise the trends and to help with the identification of future landscape-scale
projects.
Contributed by Rachel Jones, Assistant Conservation Officer, [email protected]
Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon
Regular transects conducted on Lulworth Skipper sites have shown a marked decline in populations
in recent years. This highlighted the need for a recent survey of all known extant, extinct and potential
Lulworth Skipper sites with an aim to assess the current population size of colonies, the colony
distribution and site habitat suitability.
The methods were extracted from previous studies on Lulworth Skipper; Pearman (1998), which was
based on a survey conducted in 1978 (Thomas, 1983). Comparing the 2010/12 data to the previous
results allowed an assessment of how the distribution and populations have changed. Surveys and
habitat assessments were initially conducted in 2010. Following this, in 2012 some potential sites and
sites with few or no Lulworth Skipper in 2010 were re-visited. Transect data was used to provide
comparable estimates on population size. Habitat data was collected on relevant attributes, such as
sward height and Tor-grass abundance, and used to help explain population changes.
The results show that the range of the Lulworth Skipper within Dorset remains similar and has not
changed significantly since 1997/1978 (Figure 1). Lulworth Skipper are still confined to the south of
England mainly along the Dorset coastline and along the Purbeck Ridge with some additional inland
colonies and one colony located in the far west of the range.
57 Lulworth Skipper colonies were present in 2012, 20 of the 71 colonies present in 1997 were extinct
in 2012, which equates to a loss of 28% of colonies. Six new colonies were identified in 2012. No
large colonies of Lulworth Skipper remain, 38 colonies are small and 17 are medium sized colonies.
Population increases were found on 32% of colonies, but 54% suffered from population declines
(16% had population losses of over 90%).
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© Crown Copyright and database rights [2012]. Ordnance Survey 1002201
Figure 1: Locations of extinct and extant Lulworth Skipper colonies 1978 – 2012
Analysis of the habitat variables suggests some population decreases and increases could be linked
to changes in sward height, through the relaxation of grazing or through over-grazing. Scrub and
woodland encroachment is also likely to be responsible for some population declines and extinctions.
The study results have important implications for advising future management of Lulworth Skipper
sites. Challenges in managing for Lulworth Skipper are linked to conflicting land uses, but there is
potential for future work on the species, through improving habitat suitability by scrub management
and changes to grazing regimes and by changing the cutting timing of roadside verges, improving
connectivity.
The work on this study relied on previous survey work conducted by Katrin Pradel and Stuart
Woodley (Bournemouth MSc student) in summer 2010. Stuart Woodley also assisted with some of
the 2012 transect counts.
References
Pearman, G.S., Goodger, B., Bourn, N.A.D., Warren, M.S. 1998. The Changing Status of the
Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus aceton) and Adonis Blue (Lysandra Bellargus) In South-East
Dorset over two decades. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
Thomas, J.A. 1983. The ecology and status of Thymelicus acteon in Britain. Ecological
Entomology, 8: 427-435.
Contributed by Rachel Jones, Assistant Conservation Officer, [email protected]
3.4
Farmland Butterfly Initiative
The Farmland Butterfly Initiative (FBI) was launched in 2012 and is a partnership project between
Natural England (NE) and Butterfly Conservation. The objective of the project is to test and pilot the
delivery of Favourable Conservation Status for Section 41 priority butterfly species (BAP species)
across England, by enhancing the effectiveness of two key delivery mechanisms for butterfly
conservation management in England – Environmental Stewardship (ES) and SSSI management.
Environmentally friendly farming schemes such as Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) have been in
existence for a number of years and support farmers in changing or maintaining more sympathetic
and less-intensive farming methods that help to provide habitat for wildlife. Some butterfly species are
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starting to benefit but others, particularly our most rapidly declining species, are not faring so well.
This new project aims to work with NE advisors working with and supporting farmers with land of high
nature value to ensure that farming practices are tailored to the needs of butterfly species.
The project, currently in the pilot stage, focuses on seven of our most endangered species namely,
Duke of Burgundy, Lulworth Skipper, High Brown Fritillary Argynnis adippe, Heath Fritillary,
Marsh Fritillary, Pearl-bordered and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries Boloria selene, but it is
hoped that this can be increased in future years to include a wider range of Lepidoptera.
These species require management features which are not always provided by standard
management of the habitats where they breed. Where target species are present, they will often
require modifications of standard prescriptions within an HLS agreement to include some key features
for management. We have developed the ‘Big Three’ key features as shown in the table below. In
addition to this we have developed a set of tailored prescriptions for each species which can be used
by NE advisors; these include the ideal type of grazing stock, timing of grazing, sward heights, hostplant density etc.
Table 1. The ‘Big Three’ features to manage for
Big Three Feature
1) Structural variety and bare
patches
2) Summer nectar
3) Scrub patches/ actively
managed scrub
Management needed to achieve feature
Extensive grazing to create range of turf heights at end of
growing season. Regimes include light grazing or cattle
grazing. Aim for scattered small patches of bare ground which
provide warm micro-climates for adults/larvae and where foodplants can germinate. They may be provided by hoof impact of
cattle grazing, sheep tracks, pulse grazing, scrub clearance,
burning, and other disturbance regimes
Extensive cattle grazing and no summer sheep (ie from May to
August inclusive). Rabbit control may be necessary
Retention of scattered scrub on downland or scrub
management on rotation to create a range of scrub patch sizes
and ages
The project is only able to target new HLS agreements that have been or are currently being agreed
since the project started in 2012. By comparing the NE pipeline list of planned farm and landholdings
that are due to come under agreement we have been able to cross-reference this with our
comprehensive Butterflies for the New Millennium database to produce a list of target farm holdings
where one or more of the seven species are present or where habitat may potentially still exist as the
species recently became extinct. Around 150 sites are being targeted and we are working with NE
advisors across the country and, where we have regional staff, much of this advisory work is being
delivered through the relevant BC Regional Officer.
The project will continue to run in 2013/14 during which time the current Higher Level and Entry Level
Schemes will cease.
Contributed by Dr Caroline Bulman, Senior Species Ecologist, [email protected]
4
Butterfly Conservation Country and Regional Updates
4.1
Butterfly Conservation in Scotland
We now have over 1300 members, and our autumn Member’s Days and spring Recorders’
Gatherings are ever-popular, with well over 100 attendees at each. Our Members’ Days are a
celebration of the past year’s achievements and a social occasion, especially for new members to
meet long-term members.
The Recorders Gathering is open to anyone interested in butterfly and moth recording, and here we
look at the previous years’ highlights, relevant research that uses our data, and discuss species that
need extra effort.
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We now have good coverage of Scotland with our regional ID leaflets, which encourage the public to
start recording. They are free, and distributed in visitor centres, museums etc, and feature the
butterflies and usually a few of the day-flying moths in the region. We are due to reprint the Stirling,
Clacks and Loch Lomond ID leaflet this year.
Our ‘postcard surveys’ for the general public remain useful and popular, and in 2013 we will be
focussing on Speckled Wood, with on-line recording this year for the first time.
We are continuing to develop projects on the Central Belt peatlands. Work at our Wester Moss
reserve near Stirling received a nice boost with some unexpected and short-notice funding from
Scottish Natural Heritage through the Scottish Government’s ‘Green Stimulus fund’. Volunteers and
contractors have now completed the removal of birch Betula from 1.5ha of the SSSI to significantly
increase the area of open bog on the site. Other work parties through the year have added yet more
dams, while two-thirds of the remainder of the bog has had its birch dealt with by contractors carefully
using the ‘glove of death’ method of applying herbicide. Now that the bog is much wetter, we believe
that in future this will stop the return of the birch and pine Pinus.
All of this work is hugely dependent on our members and volunteers, who not carry out the basic
recording work that underpins it, but also contribute their time and money to help keep Butterfly
Conservation Scotland growing.
Contributed by Paul Kirkland, Director, Scotland, [email protected]
4.1.1
Priority Species work in Scotland
Butterfly Conservation Scotland (BCS) has continued to work closely with Forestry Commission
Scotland (FCS), both on and off the National Forest Estate (NFE). FCS recognise the role that they
can play in spear-heading conservation action towards our two most threatened woodland butterflies,
Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne and Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon,
through their inclusion as high priority species in their Scottish Forestry Strategy.
One of the fundamental questions that we have been unable to answer is how these two butterflies
are faring in Scotland. This is because an insufficient number of colonies are monitored each year.
However, last year we were able to help FCS target monitoring to both butterflies on the NFE by
using a combination of contractors and volunteers. Despite the poor weather, monitoring, via timed
counts and single species transects, was undertaken at over thirty sites for Pearl-bordered Fritillary
and almost twenty for Chequered Skipper. The results are still being collated but we are hopeful,
despite the poor weather, that sufficient data has been collected for a Scottish index to be calculated
and hope that similar coverage will continue in 2013.
In addition, BCS also launched a Chequered Skipper survey in 2012 as we believe the butterfly is
under-recorded in Scotland. This is based on research undertaken by Dr Stuart Ball from JNCC
(Joint Nature Conservation Committee). He devised a statistical model to identify areas that support
highly suitable habitat. This predicted that the distribution of Chequered Skipper may be
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underestimated by around 20% at a 10km square resolution and possibly by as much as 400% at a
1km scale! The key factors in his model were climatic, particularly rainfall but also altitude, woodland
cover, rough grassland and a southerly aspect. The aim of the survey was, therefore, to target
recording to the top 100 1km squares that Stuart predicted to be the most suitable for the butterfly,
but where it had not previously been recorded. Details of the survey, including survey forms,
methodology and maps, showing the location of each of the one hundred 1km squares were all
available on our website.
Despite the poor weather the survey sparked a good deal of interest with over 50 volunteers signing
up to take part. This resulted in 49 survey visits to squares although this includes repeat visits by
different surveyors to some squares. 36 different squares, out of the 100 targeted, were surveyed
with Chequered Skipper being found in 15 of these, but not found in 21. The main reason for the
butterfly not being recorded in these squares was due to them being surveyed in marginal weather,
rather than the butterfly being absent. Chequered Skipper was also recorded in an additional 15 new
1km squares, where it had not previously been recorded, although these squares were not part of the
targeted 100 squares. The location of these squares is plotted on the map below
Key
Blue Triangles = CS records 1980-2011.
Green Dots =Targeted 1km squares where CS was found.
Red Dots = Targeted 1km squares surveyed but CS was not found.
Orange Dots = Other new 1km squares where CS was recorded.
NB: Three 1km squares in Cowal, all red dots, which lie c30km to the south of the map are not
shown.
As the map clearly shows all the records are from within, or adjacent to, the current known range of
the butterfly with the most significant records of Chequered Skipper being:
 The most southerly Scottish sighting, in Glen Nant.
 A record immediately to the east of Kinlochleven which is around 7km to the east of the closest
previous record.
 The discovery of a good population in seven 1km squares at the western end of Loch Arkaig,
on the north-western edge of the buttery’s range.
BCS would like to thank everyone who took part in the survey. Due to the success of and interest in
the survey we will be repeating it again next year, with our fingers very strongly crossed for some
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better weather. For more information please visit www.butterfly-conservation.org/chequeredskipper
and/or contact Tom Prescott for more info. Email: [email protected]. Tel 01540
661469
4.2
Butterfly Conservation in Northern Ireland
2012/13 is the 2nd year of our Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) funded project ‘Butterflies
Mean Biodiversity’ in Northern Ireland. This project works with various partners including Agencies,
NGOs, Landscape Partnerships, Biodiversity Officers and the local branch. The main aim of the
project is to increase engagement in conserving butterflies and moths through building capacity in the
branch, local organisation and the general public.
2012 was a particularly frustrating year to be working on butterflies and moths in Northern Ireland
with almost all surveys being postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather. However, despite
there being hardly any butterflies, we have seen a steady increase in support for BCNI. We saw an
increase in participation in the Big Butterfly Count, bucking the UK wide trend, potentially due to the
Local Biodiversity Action Forum who received HLF funding to encourage biological recording
throughout Norther Ireland, and butterflies being one of the main groups that was promoted.
Participation in Branch Talks over the winter period is at a historically high level, with 40-50 people
now being the norm whereas in the past we struggled to reach double figures. We have also
maintained a membership of just about 200 individuals, the highest level in the Branch’s history.
Projects
‘Saving Magnificent Meadows’ in partnership with the NIEA, the Department for Agriculture and Rural
Development (DARD), the Ulster Wildlife Trust (UWT) and local biodiversity officers, is a UK wide
project spearheaded through Plantlife. Our project in NI is one of several across the country. We
received Stage I development funding, developing both an audience participation strategy and an
inventory of potential sites for engagement throughout the target area of Fermanagh and South
Tyrone. If successful at Stage II, we will be able to employ a full time member of staff throughout the
project area who will explore the various issues currently inhibiting good grassland conservation
leading to a more practical based LIFE or INTERREG bid in the future. Target species that will
benefit from this project include; Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth, Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages, Cryptic Wood White Leptidea juvernica and Small Blue
Cupido minimus.
BCNI have worked with the Carntogher Community Association’s Envision Project in County
Derry/Londonderry. Carntogher is an Irish speaking area where we are working with the local Gaeilge
speakers to develop vernacular moth and butterfly names in Irish, as well as raising awareness and
participation in recording and monitoring. This area has no history of recording or of recorders and
through engaging through the language we are able to increase interest and involvement in
butterflies and moths in an otherwise hard to reach group. Envision is championing the Large Heath
Coenonympha tullia with local volunteers surveying local bog sites for the foodplant and turning up
several new sites for this species.
NIEA have funded an extensive survey into Marsh Fritillary across Fermanagh and South Tyrone
which has turned up a suite of new sites and highlighted the importance of under explored areas
such as Slieve Beagh and Bin Mountain for invertebrates, especially those associated with Scabious
rich habitats. This is particularly important in 2012 due to the low Marsh Fritillary numbers throughout
the region; these new sites are obviously important core sites which can maintain the species even in
very ‘bad’ years. The Grayling Hipparchia semele has been championed by several organisations
with a new timed species count at Cave Hill in the Belfast Hills, a transect at The Giant’s Causeway
and new interpretation through the Action for Biodiversity Project at Sheeplands.
2012 was also hailed as ‘Year of the Micro-moth’ with funding provided through NIEA for increased
targeted recording and verification of specimens. More micro-moth records were added to the
database in 2012 than in any previous year with 22 species being new to Northern Ireland and two of
these also being new to Ireland.
Contributed by Catherine Bertrand, Senior Regional Officer, Northern Ireland, [email protected]
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4.3
Butterfly Conservation in Wales
Butterfly Conservation Wales (BCW) continues to focus effort on a range of priority Lepidoptera. In
addition to the species mentioned below and elsewhere, survey work has continued on Large Heath
on the Denbigh Moors in North Wales, where several new sites were discovered in 2012.
One of the main outcomes in 2012 was the completion in March of the three-year Tir Gofal
Monitoring Contract. This investigated the impact of the previous welsh agri-environment scheme on
Marsh Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene and Brown Hairstreak Thecla
betulae, as well as a range of vertebrate and plant taxa. Publication of the final report by Welsh
Government is still awaited. We have also continued to provide advice and training on the current
Glastir agri-environment scheme including species advice under the woodland management element.
The Welsh Clearwing Synanthedon scoliaeformis was the focus of a student project. Rhiannon
Bevan from University of Swansea sampled trees in three key areas; Elan Valley, Lake Vyrnwy and
Cannock Chase. Her results confirm much that was already known about the moth’s requirements
but also indicated that the moth may require birch trees growing in more open conditions at higher
altitude.
Our partnership agreement with Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) continued in 2012. Scrub
management at Pembrey Forest, on the Carmarthenshire coast, is continuing thanks to our work with
FCW and TCV. Remnant sand dunes and rides within the forest support nationally important
populations of Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper Pyrus malvae. Scrub removal is helping to maintain
the forest distributions of these species.
Scrub removal from a former quarry within Slade Wood, Monmouthshire, continued in 2012, and
foodplants of Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages and Drab Looper Minoa murinata are
recolonising the area. The scarce micro-moth Eucosma aspidiscana was recorded new to Wales
from the quarry in 2012. At Hendre Woods, near Monmouth, over 1km of trackside habitat was
managed over the previous winter, to increase suitability for the Drab Looper and enable it to
disperse into new habitat patches. A management plan has been drawn up to help prioritise further
ride and scrub management for the moth between now and 2015.
At Clocaenog Forest in Denbighshire, extensive scrub clearance has been undertaken alongside
watercourses to maintain habitat suitability for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and to increase
connectivity across the network of nearly 40 breeding sites. Long-term species monitoring has
highlighted positive site-level responses to the habitat management. Annual scrub clearance at
Harlech Forest on the Merionethshire coast also continued in 2012. This is the only Dingy Skipper
site in the county and management has allowed the species to colonies tracks and rides which were
previously unsuitable for it.
Russel Hobson, Head of Conservation Wales, [email protected] and George
Tordoff, Conservation Officer, [email protected]
4.4
Butterfly Conservation in the West Midlands
In early 2012 the Midlands Fritillaries Project (which targeted eight key West Midlands landscapes
plus the Forest of Dean in the South and employed two part time members of staff) came to an end
and the Senior Regional Officer’s work became increasingly focussed on project work in the Wyre
Forest and on Forestry Commission (FC) sites across the region.
Thanks to Forestry Commission England (FCE) funding, the regional officer has again been active
(together with support from the local BC branches) developing collaborative landscape projects to
help deliver the joint Lepidoptera on Forestry Commission Land in England Conservation Strategy
2007-2017. The project to conserve the Wood White Leptidea sinapis in South Shropshire has
continued (see section 4.4.2). The project work at Oversley Wood in Warwickshire led by FCE
focussed on Aspen Populus tremula feeding invertebrates, including two UK Biodiversity Action Plan
(BAP) micro-moths is now well into its final year, and a new FCE led ‘Linking the Pearls in the Dean’
project has started in the Forest of Dean. This focuses work on the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
and is a legacy to the collaborative work achieved through the Midlands Fritillary Project. The project
24
has started to implement an extensive programme of landscape-scale woodland management. In the
first six months the priorities have been surveying the condition of 10.5kms of ride edges, collecting
and growing on Marsh Violet Viola palustris for replanting next spring, and beginning the contracts
and volunteer tasks to clear scrub, re-coppice and widen rides to link the three surviving Small Pearlbordered fritillary colonies in the Dean.
The Mortimer Forest on the Shropshire/Herefordshire border has also started to receive more
attention with an ‘Into the Woods’ project proposal developed which is aimed at engaging people
from the local community in wildlife recording and practical volunteering. An aim for 2013 is to try to
encourage much more survey and recording effort to be targeted at both the Mortimer Forest and
other nearby Forestry Commission woods partly to assess the current status of Wood White and help
to identify which sites could be involved in a re-introduction project.
The Regional Officer has also contributed to the Stiperstones & Corndon Hill Landscape Partnership
Scheme (which has now submitted a Stage 2 application to HLF) by attending the Natural Heritage
Special Advisory Group and contributing to the development of a project ‘Rescuing rocks and
overgrown relics’. If successful, this project will focus on improving habitats at a number of south
Shropshire sites which support Grayling (including Bog Mine, Roman Gravels, Snailbeach Mine and
Earl’s Hill) as well as on important connecting sites.
BC has continued to play a key role in the Wyre Forest area by sitting on the Legacy Working Group
and more recently by accepting places on the new Wyre Forest Landscape Partnership board and
the Land Management Working Group. These groups will be working closely with the Strategic
Development Manager with the aim of producing a strategic management plan for the whole area
which will involve Natural England (NE) and FC working together more closely than they have ever
done before. Our new Reconnecting the Wyre project which builds on Back to Orange, which ran in
the Wyre Forest from 2007-2010, is now also well underway (see section 4.4.1).
Work in the region continues to receive good publicity via the local media including newspapers and
local radio. There has been continuing coverage of project work in The Comma, regional magazine of
the local West Midlands branch and also the newsletter of Warwickshire branch.
The Warwickshire and West Midlands branches continue to focus their efforts on practical
conservation work, targeting sites where the most important species occur (e.g. Grafton Wood in
Worcestshire, Ewyas Harold Common in Herefordshire and Ryton Wood in Warwickshire). In addition
to this they are also involved in a number of landscape projects such as ‘Bringing back the Small
Blue’ in Warwickshire and ‘Hedgerows for Hairstreaks’ in the Forest of Feckenham area of
Worcestershire which focuses on the Brown Hairstreak. Both branches also run regular events and
training days and are actively involved in ongoing survey and monitoring projects such as BC’s Wider
Countryside Butterfly Survey.
Contributed by Dr Jenny Joy, Senior Regional Officer, [email protected]
4.4.1
Reconnecting the Wyre
The Pearl-bordered Fritillary is one of the fastest declining butterflies in the UK, having suffered a
61% distribution loss between 1970-82 and 1995-2004 and a 66% decline in abundance between
1977 and 2004. These losses are ongoing, with the most recent analysis showing a distribution loss of
43% and a 42% decline in abundance between 1995-1999 and 2005-09 (Fox et al., 2011).
It is clear that the Wyre Forest is now a key national stronghold for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary as a
result of the various management practices that are being employed here. These include coppicing,
PAWS restoration work and creation of areas of permanent open space (managed in a variety of ways
such as by mowing, annual cut and collect programmes, annual July Bracken rolling, grazing or
gradual enlargement) and the creation and maintenance of wide rides and tracks. There is also no
doubt that the Back to Orange project work carried out here from 2007-2010 was extremely successful
in its main aim of helping to conserve the fritillaries of the Wyre Forest. Pearl-bordered Fritillary moved
into 13 new areas and there were large increases in numbers on at least five other established sites
(Joy, 2012).
25
The Reconnecting the Wyre Project follows on from these previous successes and will carry out a
landscape-scale, targeted programme of coppice restoration and ride management in lowland mixed
deciduous woodland within the Wyre Forest. The aims of the project are: a) to restore economically
viable coppice which will provide sustainable breeding habitat for the butterfly, b) to improve
connectivity across the forest thus increasing the chances of natural recolonisation of new habitat as it
becomes available, and c) to continue to enlarge the volunteer network so that it can continue to
undertake maintenance management and monitoring under the supervision of the West Midlands BC
branch both during and after the project. The land management outcomes are anticipated to be
45.3ha of restored and better connected habitat with the work consisting of coppice restoration, ride
widening, scrub clearance, conifer felling, culverting and stump grinding. Initially the project focussed
on continuing to ensure BC was well represented on the legacy work from Grow with Wyre as well as
encouraging volunteers to undertake further survey work in summer 2012 following on from the
successes of 2011.
2011 had been a particularly notable year for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the Wyre Forest.
Exceptional numbers were recorded on many of the sites monitored by timed counts, it was widely
distributed in many parts of the forest and was recorded on a number of new sites. This is reflected in
the number of Medium (n=3) and Large (n=11) sized colonies recorded on timed count sites which
was much higher than any year since 2002. The exceptional year of 2011 was also reflected in the
transect results. All three transects in the main block recorded significantly more Pearl-bordered
Fritillaries than in any other year since 2001 with the annual indices for the Wyre Forest East and
Wyre Forest West both being above 180. Overall the population index for the Wyre Forest between
2002 and 2011 increased by 113% in comparison to a non-significant trend across the whole UK
during the same period (see Joy, 2012, Joy & Ellis, 2012).
In 2012, volunteer activities in the area have continued to increase with the support of BC’s West
Midlands branch and again over 20 recorders were involved in the survey for Pearl-bordered Fritillary
alone. Despite the poor weather, Pearl-bordered Fritillary numbers held up well on both the sites
monitored by timed counts and on the transects where the numbers on the Wyre Forest East and
Wyre Forest West dropped from their all time highs in 2011 but were still higher than for any year
since 2001. The Pearl-bordered Fritillary was also recorded on 17 new sites in 2012 which is a clear
indication that it is now dispersing well in certain parts of the Forest. This included a site to the east of
the River Severn which was the first report of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries on that side of the river since
1999. A new butterfly trail was launched in May which passes through several of the areas managed
as part of the earlier Back to Orange project and gives BC its first visible presence at the Wyre Forest.
Our project work here has continued to receive good publicity in the local media.
The land management part of this new project commenced in autumn 2012 with a programme of
coppice re-spacing and scrub removal which has involved contractors and volunteer work parties. The
first re-spacing plot was completed in October with a further ten sites due for completion by April 2013.
Stump grinding work is due to take place on four sites in the next few months as is some further
conifer removal work. In addition to this, FCE and NE are both continuing to take opportunities to
create more wide rides and linking corridors. Closer partnership working is also taking place and there
is now increasing awareness of other sites in the wider area which have the potential to support our
key species. Eight BC work parties will take place over the winter months mainly undertaking ride work
in key areas but also assisting with some of the re-spacing work.
The appointment of a new Strategic Development Manager for Wyre, which is a joint appointment
between FC and NE, and the decision to produce a joined-up management plan for the whole Forest
should offer many new opportunities to create and maintain Pearl-bordered Fritillary habitat in what is
now one of the premier sites for the species in England.
Acknowledgements: The Reconnecting the Wyre Project has been funded by SITA Trust. This
project would not be running so effectively without the full support of the FCE (Richard Boles and Phil
Rudlin) and NE (Saul Herbert) to whom we are very grateful.
References
Fox, R., Brereton, T. M., Roy, D.B., Asher, J. & Warren, M.S. 2011. The State of the UK’s Butterflies
2011. Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wareham, Dorset.
26
Joy, J. 2012.The Impact of Management on Pearl-bordered Fritillary populations in the Wyre
Forest. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report S12- 08.
Joy, J. & Ellis, S. 2012. The impact of management on Pearl-bordered Fritillary populations in
the Wyre Forest. In: Landscape-scale conservation for butterflies and moths lessons from the UK
(Ellis, S., Bourn, N.A.D., & Bulman, C.R). Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
Contributed by Dr Jenny Joy, Senior Regional Officer, [email protected] and Mike
Williams, West Midlands branch Landscape Area Champion for the Wyre Forest,
[email protected]
4.4.2
Conserving the Wood White Butterfly in the South Shropshire Woods Project
From 2010 to 2012, by working in partnership with FC, a significant programme of work was
undertaken in eight woods between Clun and Craven Arms in South Shropshire as the area is part of
a regional stronghold for Wood White. The aim of the project was to improve available habitat for the
butterfly through undertaking management work, while also seeking to improve linkages between
woods in order to encourage dispersal of the butterfly at a landscape level.
The work undertaken covered an area of 46ha with ride work being the dominant feature (40ha of the
project work) although a series of trial scrapes were created on two sites (4.5ha) and volunteer work
parties took place on three sites to create additional clearings and scallops. Initial vegetation and
population surveys helped determine the best locations for management work to take place and a
repeat survey was undertaken at the end of the project to assess the impact of work on the
distribution of key larval foodplants and the butterfly. The repeat of the vegetation survey clearly
showed the success of the project work with 74% of the ride and track edges managed already
supporting more Wood White habitat. The creation of scrapes also initially appears to have been
successful but further monitoring of both the ride sides and scrapes is essential to see how long
these benefits are sustained. The vegetation monitoring work also identified that a volunteer work
party had inadvertantly created potential Wood White habitat on the brash pile which was due for
removal or breaking up. This brash provided an ideal germination ground for Greater Bird’s-foot
Trefoil Lotus pedunculatus.
The vegetation survey results together with the survey and monitoring results were used to produce
management and monitoring recommendations on a site by site basis. There is no doubt that the ride
management system already initiated on three of the sites by FC has been a great success. A key
component of the management recommendations are therefore to extend this management system
to more rides on key sites.
Transects were continued on the three sites which were known to support Wood White and this
monitoring continued in summer 2012. Nineteen other sites were surveyed for Wood White during
the course of the project. Many of these sites had held populations of the Wood White in the early
2000’s and, with the exception of the Mortimer Forest, it was disappointing to find that these colonies
were no longer extant. This fact does, however, serve to highlight that declines are continuing at a
regional level and to reinforce the importance of sustaining and safeguarding remaining populations.
Three of the sites included in the project work are now thought to contain sufficient suitable habitat to
support a population of the Wood White. For this reason, re-introductions should be considered on
these sites in the near future. BC are keen to develop a Wood White re-introduction project early in
2013 where south Shropshire and north Herefordshire could be two of the main focus areas.
This project could not have been acheived without the support of local volunteers. Continued local
volunteer effort will be essential to ensure that these sites maintain a high profile for their
conservation interest, to contribute to the ongoing management effort, and to continue to monitor the
long term effects of the project work. This project was funded by SITA Trust until March 2012 with the
subsequent work delivered through our close working with FCE.
Contributed by Dr Jenny Joy, Senior Regional Officer, [email protected] and Mike
Williams, South Shropshire Woods Contractor
27
4.5
Butterfly Conservation in Northern England
BC currently employs three staff in the region headed by Dr. Dave Wainwright, Regional Officer.
Martin Wain combines roles of Woodland Advisor within the Morecambe Bay Natural Improvemnt
Area (NIA) with that of Project Officer overseeing the management of woodland sites (funded by
SITA). Graham Jones’ roles include development of a volunteer task force (funded by HLF),
management of sites using contractors and supervision of a captive breeding and reintroduction
programme for Pearl-bordered Fritillary (funded by Co-op). Although the Regional Officer continues
to represent BC across the region, work continues to focus mainly on the Morecambe Bay
Limestones and the North York Moors Dukes and Pearls projects.
BC currently co-ordinates the High Brown Fritillary Action Group encompassing sites in south
Cumbria and north Lancashire, transect recorder groups in the North York Moors and Morecambe
Bay areas and sits on the Cumbria Marsh Fritillary Action Group, Durham Small Pearl-bordered
Fritillary steering group and Netted Carpet Eustroma reticulatum steering group.
In County Durham, the Regional Officer continues to provide advice to owners of sites that support
populations of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary in the Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe and to
organisations involved in their management. BC initiated management of these sites in 2002.
Monitoring is now largely undertaken by staff from other organisations and volunteers. Two of the
remaining six colonies are monitored by transect; counts in 2012 were good despite poor weather.
Evidence suggests that control of grazing pressure on streamside damp grassland/wet flush habitats
is the key to the conservation of this species in County Durham. Further fencing has been installed at
sites identified as potentially capable of supporting the species. Attempts to create habitat through
planting violet Viola spp. plug plants also appear to be successful. In summary the habitat resource
for this species in County Durham has been tripled by management since 2002 and by five-fold when
previously unrecorded habitat is included. BC is currently advising Durham Wildlife Trust on best
practice for establishing populations at further sites.
In Cumbria the Marsh Fritillary re-introduction programme continues. The species has now been
reintroduced to eight sites. Populations on all four original sites survive and, although web counts
suggest a decrease since 2011, none appears to be under any immediate threat of extinction
(indeed, one of the founder populations experienced a substantial increase). Work to improve habitat
condition on these and other sites continues as does the captive breeding programme, the aim being
to reintroduce the species to further sites in order to develop sustainable population networks. The
possibility of introducing fresh genetic material into captive strains is being examined, as breeding
success was curtailed considerably in 2012. The breeding programme is undertaken mainly by
volunteers.
The Regional Officer also advises on the Netted Carpet in Cumbria and the Dark Bordered Beauty
Epione vespertaria in North Yorkshire. Extensive surveys of Stensall Common, the English home of
the Dark-bordered Beauty were undertaken in 2012 and BC staff assisted with monitoring of Netted
Carpet in Cumbria and Lancashire. The Regional Officer also co-ordinates the collation of butterfly
transect data from the Morecambe Bay and North York Moors areas and issues High Brown Fritillary
netting licences to recorders on behalf of NE. Additionally, the regional office deals annually with a
number of planning issues especially on the Cumbrian coast (relating to Small Blue, Dingy Skipper
and Grayling sites) and in County Durham and Tees Valley (Dingy Skipper, Grayling). An increasing
amount of staff time is being devoted to assisting NE advisors in the preparation of HLS applications
for sites supporting, or capable of supporting, key Lepidoptera.
Contributed by Dr. Dave Wainwright, Regional Officer, [email protected]
4.5.1
Conserving the Pearl-bordered Fritillary Project
This project ensures that many of the woodlands around Morecambe Bay continue to receive
management following expiry of funding provided by GrantScape. Over the last five years, more than
30 woodlands have been managed through ride widening, ride creation, felling and coppicing. The
bulk of this work has been undertaken by contractors but volunteers continue to perform a significant
role in terms of assisting with management and with monitoring the butterfly populations of these
woodlands. The volunteer contribution to these projects now easily exceeds 1000 days and
28
continues to increase on a weekly basis.
Building a Butterfly Task Force
Graham Jones is tasked with further development of our existing volunteer team and the recruitment
of new members. The task force will continue to undertake management, monitoring and surveys.
Volunteers are now being provided with training such as first aid, use of brushcutters and chainsaws
and will in due course be trained to assist with surveying for species such as Pearl-bordered
Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy and Anania funebris. Our current winter work programme comprises
an average of 2-3 volunteer tasks per week.
Morecambe Bay Nature Improvement Area
Martin Wain holds the post of Woodlands Advisor within the NIA. Key elements of his role are to liaise
with woodland owners, promote the FC grants schemes, prepare woodland management plans and,
when needed to prepare and submit grant applications on behalf of woodland owners. Martin also
seeks to promote woodfuel initiatives and develop butterfly tourism and volunteering opportunities
wherever they arise. The partnership with FC continues to deliver important conservation benefits
within the Morecambe Bay area.
Contributed by Dr. Dave Wainwright, Regional Officer, [email protected]
Martin Wain, Morecambe Bay Limestones Project Officer, [email protected] and
Graham Jones [email protected]
4.5.2
Conserving North York Moors Limestone Grassland for Dukes and Pearls Project
The lowland calcareous grasslands located along the southern edge of the North York Moors
represent one of the most important areas for Lepidoptera in northern England, supporting nationally
important populations of the Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary. The Conserving
North York Moors Limestone Grassland for Dukes and Pearls Project is implementing a programme
of landscape-scale limestone grassland habitat restoration on 32 sites, identified through the Fit for a
Duke feasibility study undertaken in 2008-09. Management includes scrub control, vegetation cutting,
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. management, coppicing, ride
widening, mowing, Primula planting and violet Viola sp. seeding. A total of twenty-one sites have now
been managed. A (re)-introduction programme for Duke of Burgundy is planned on some restored
sites where natural colonisation in the short to medium term is unlikely.
Monitoring of extant, extinct and potential Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary sites
continued in 2012. Pearl-bordered Fritillary now occupies four sites (two were occupied at the
commencement of this project). Duke of Burgundy was found on one new site and one at which it
had not been seen since 2000, although it was not found at two sites where it had been seen in
2011. The project is principally funded by WREN.
Contributed by Dr. Dave Wainwright, Regional Officer, [email protected]
4.6
Butterfly Conservation in Eastern England
It was a year of transition in the East of England as two long running projects came to an end and
new projects have started. Although the Regional Officer continues to represent BC across the
region, in 2012 work was almost entirely focused on three projects; the Norfolk Brecks Heathland
Restoration for Threatened Butterflies and Moths which ended in December, Managing Elms for the
White-spotted Pinion in Cambridgeshire project which finished in May and the Northants Wood White
Project which started in July 2012. Preparations were successful for a new Ipswich Heaths project
for Silver-studded Blue to start in January 2013.
At the Devil’s Dyke near Newmarket in Suffolk the butterfly transect continued in 2012 for its tenth
year with a stable Dingy Skipper population and a fabulous year for Chalkhill Blue Lysandra
coridon with a high count of 1758. The site is now in HLS with volunteers from BC’s Cambridgeshire
and Essex branch providing extra conservation effort directed at both priority species.
The Regional Conservation Day was held on 21 April 2012 at Mundford Village Hall and attended by
11 volunteers from five BC branches in the Eastern Region. The event included a field trip to
29
Hockwold and Weeting Heath to view the soil inversion work but will probably be best remembered
for the torrential rain.
Contributed by Sharon Hearle, Regional Officer, [email protected].
4.6.1
Norfolk Brecks Heathland Restoration for Threatened Butterflies and Moths Project
The Norfolk Brecks Heathland project focuses on restoring heathland habitat on 15 Norfolk Breckland
sites to benefit a wide suite of threatened moths, as well as some butterflies. This £220k project is
principally funded by WREN. It started in January 2010 and finished in December 2012. The principal
objective of practical management is ground disturbance (scarification, rotovation and turf stripping)
but on some sites scrub and bracken management is also undertaken. Over half the sites are FCE
woodlands where rides have been targeted to increase the area of heathland but also improve
connectivity.
Practical projects with contractors have been completed at 15 separate sites and included both large
scale and small scale projects in 2012. At Cranwich Camp four new turf stripped plots were created
to build on the success of those dug in 2011. At Brettenham Heath, Cranwich Heath, Methwold Rides
and Cranwich Ride 58, 11 large rotovated plots were completed building on known positive results for
Lunar Yellow Underwing Noctua orbona, Basil-thyme Case-bearer Coleophora tricolor, Forester
Adscita statices and Grey Carpet Lithostege griseata. At East Harling Heath scrub clearance work
was targeted at restoring old pits and sheltered corners to improve habitat for Grizzled Skipper.
Scrub was cleared at Cranwich Camp and also at West Tofts Pit to expose south facing banks of
bare soil for Dingy Skipper which is known to occur at both sites. Along forest rides just south of
Thetford two new terraced pits have been created for Dingy Skipper which is present in a forest restock plot nearby. Tree clearance was completed at one large site to reduce shading and competition
for a large area of privet known to support Barred Tooth-striped Trichopteryx polycommata which
was found in early 2012. BC worked in partnership with Plantlife to complete an ambitious deep
ploughing (soil inversion) project at Hockwold and East Harling resulting in 3 plots covering 23
hectares on former forestry land. Several events have been organised in conjunction with volunteers
to ensure monitoring continues in 2013.
Contributed by Sharon Hearle, Regional Officer, [email protected]
4.6.2
Managing elms for the White-spotted Pinion in the Cambridgeshire Fens
A large area of Cambridgeshire i s the national stronghold for the White-spotted Pinion Cosmia
diffinis. There is evidence of Dutch Elm Disease across Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire but
many old stands of trees remain unaffected. This £55k project is principally funded by SITA Trust
30
and aims to halt and reverse the decline of the moth through a programme of habitat management
on 29 locations around Huntingdon and Cambridge, at the centre of the moth's UK distribution.
This project started in June 2010 and finished in May 2012 although volunteers continued
recording the adult during the August/September flight season.
The second year of the White-spotted Pinion project saw further elm trees planted at several different
locations including a 150metre boundary near Knapwell. Elm trees have been sourced as suckers
from existing elm stands and micro propagated trees, both sourced from trees that appear to be
resistant to Dutch Elm Disease to date. Most planted trees of either type have grown vigorously
although some suffered in the spring drought.
Survey visits for White-spotted Pinion larvae at five different sites were all negative in 2012.
However, Lesser-spotted Pinion Cosmia affinis larvae were recorded feeding on leaves in the
tree guards of elm planted in 2010/11. Adult White-spotted Pinion were generally 10 days later
than recent years and not seen until mid August. There was a good distribution of records across
Cambridgeshire in 2012 at known sites and new sites, some of which were predicted due to the
presence of old elm trees.
4.6.3
Conserving the Wood White Butterfly in Northamptonshire’s Woodlands
A new three year project funded by SITA Trust with £113,000 and working in close partnership with
FC and local volunteers started in July 2012. This project will carry out a landscape-scale, targeted
programme of practical conservation management to maintain and restore habitat for the Wood White
in one of its few remaining strongholds - the Yardley-Whittlewood Ridge landscape of
Northamptonshire. Working in six woods the project will 1) maintain and strengthen existing
populations and 2) encourage re-colonisations of former sites within the landscape. Wood White was
confirmed at all six woods in the project area in 2012 and although the highest count was 41 at Sywell
Wood, the lowest was just two at Whitfield Wood.
Contractors completed ride clearance along 800m at two locations at Bucknell Wood and 400m at
Sywell to open up very overgrown rides and link Wood White colonies. All cut material was either
stacked for charcoal, chipped or burnt. Contracts have been agreed for work at Hazleborough North,
Hazelborough South, Whitfield Wood and Yardley Chase to include wide ridening, scalloping and
creation of box junctions in 2013.
4.6.4
Restoring the Ipswich Heaths
This project aims to undertake landscape scale restoration of heathland sites on the eastern fringe of
Ipswich to secure the remaining Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus butterfly populations. Funding
was secured from Wren for £116,526 to implement a four year project to restore remaining heathland
sites on the eastern fringe of Ipswich. This project will start in 2013 and implement a programme of
landscape-scale lowland heath restoration on 11 ecologically linked sites on the eastern fringes of
Ipswich. The Ipswich Heaths were once part of a continuous band of heathland which stretched
eastwards towards the coast at Lowestoft. The heathland habitat close to Ipswich is now much
reduced and fragmented by new housing, industrial and recreational pressures combined with a lack
of conservation management this has had a devastating impact on the number of butterflies and
moths found. As recently as the 1980s at one of the proposed project sites, Purdis Heath, over 2000
Silver-studded Blue were regularly counted, tragically the count for 2011 was just 14. Management
work will include clearance of trees and gorse scrub to enable heathland to re-establish and create
mosaics of different age structures to provide shelter. At some sites restoration will include removal of
bracken and gorse litter back to the mineral soil level to encourage heather regeneration from the
seed bank, reduce soil compaction and encourage ants. The project will work very closely with local
volunteers to implement this project.
Contributed by Sharon Hearle, East of England Regional Officer, [email protected]
4.7
Butterfly Conservation in South West England
BC’s work in the region is supported by the following members of staff: Jenny Plackett, Project
Officer, working on the Two Moors Threatened Butterflies Project on Dartmoor and Exmoor (see
31
section 4.8.1); Caroline Kelly, Conservation Officer, working on Expanding the Large Blue in the
Polden Hills and Conserving the Painswick Valley’s Rare Butterflies and Rachel Jones, Assistant
Conservation Officer. Mark Parsons, Dr. Nigel Bourn and Dr Caroline Bulman, members of BC’s
national species team carry out much of their work on UK Biodiversity Action Plan and section 41
species butterflies and moths in the south west.
During 2012, BC’s species team has worked directly on Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Heath Fritillary,
Large Blue, Marsh Fritillary, Lulworth Skipper, Adonis Blue Polyommatus bellargus, Duke of
Burgundy, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Silver-studded Blue, Eudarcia richardsoni, Dingy
Mocha Cyclophora pendularia, Barberry Carpet Pareulype berberata, Narrow-bordered Bee
Hawk-moth, Drab Looper, Light Crimson Underwing Catocala promissa, Silky Wave Idaea
dilutaria, Forester, Agonopterix atomella, Grapholita pallifrontana, Argent & Sable Rheumaptera
hastata, Shoulder-striped Clover Heliothis maritima, Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria,
Speckled Footman Coscinia cribraria, Phyllonorycter scabiosella, Striped Lychnis Shargacucullia
lychnitis and Scythris siccella in the south west. See section 3.1 (moths) and 3.3 (butterflies) for
information about the work carried out on these species.
Saving Devon’s Precious Pearls project, involving FC sites is now coming to the end of its second
year. Expanding the Large Blue in the Polden Hills funded by SITA and the BBC Wildlife Fund is also
coming to the end of its second year. BC was successful in obtaining funding in October 2012 from
Biffa Award for the Conserving the Painswick Valley’s Rare Butterflies project. This project is funded
for two years, ending September 2014 which aims to restore limestone grassland to support Large
Blue and Duke of Burgundy butterflies and will help to re-establish functioning metapopulations of
both species in the Painswick Valley. The project will address the major conservation challenge of
managing habitat for two species at opposite ends of the successional spectrum of habitat in the
same landscape.
4.7.1
Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project
The Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project has been running since 2005 with the aim of reversing
the declines in three UK BAP species; Marsh Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary and Heath Fritillary.
The Project works at a landscape scale across Dartmoor and Exmoor, aiming to restore and reconnect areas of suitable habitat by working with farmers and landowners, providing help and advice
in habitat management, sourcing funding for required management and organising practical works.
Since the Project began, 187 sites have been visited (107 on Dartmoor, 80 on Exmoor), advice
provided on over 1800ha of land, and management delivered on more than 1350ha of habitat. This is
a partnership project lead by BC with funding support from NE, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park
Authorities and the Environment Agency.
2013 will see the expiry of many Environmentally Sensitive Area funding agreements across
Dartmoor and Exmoor. These agreements have offered financial incentives to support landowners in
undertaking management to benefit wildlife, and have been replaced by HLS agreements. In 2012,
significant effort has been put into supporting landowners and NE advisors in the preparation of new
agreements to ensure that appropriate management options and ‘indicators of success’ are
incorporated, and site-specific management plans have been produced where necessary. The HLS
agreements are valid for 10 years and will secure appropriate management for target species in the
longer term. A key agreement has been signed this year which incorporates habitat in the Dart Valley
area which supports one of the most important High Brown Fritillary populations in the UK.
In Exmoor, the project continues to work closely with the National Trust (NT) to support on-going
management in the Heddon Valley for High Brown Fritillary. Here, the project has been instrumental
in helping to source funding to pay for management works, overseeing contractors and working with
volunteers. This year, contractors have carried out a total of 13 days of Bracken management,
cleared 3.6ha of scrub and undertaken 0.9ha of coppicing, to improve habitat condition across the
network of occupied sites. A further 3ha scrub control is due to be carried out before March 2013.
The project has also worked with private landowners, helping to secure funding through farmers’ agrienvironment agreements to carry out further scrub and bramble control, and involved volunteers in
violet planting to increase the quality of breeding habitat.
32
During the last year, the project has visited 99 sites, resulting in management works being carried out
on 40 sites (covering 33ha), conservation/ management plans being produced at 14 sites, and
provision of management advice for a further 15 sites. 74 sites were monitored when weather
conditions permitted.
Volunteer involvement remains a key element of the project, with 24 volunteer work tasks (280
volunteer days) spent on key butterfly sites across Dartmoor and Exmoor. The project was involved
in two public events, which were attended by a total of around 600 people and ran three
identification/monitoring training workshops involving a further 48 people.
Despite this effort, butterfly numbers were disappointing this year. Poor weather during the flight
season resulted in limited opportunities to record butterflies, and although site visits were made to
survey, very low numbers were recorded compared to recent years.
Contributed by Jenny Plackett, Two Moors Project Officer, [email protected]
4.7.2
Saving Devon’s Precious Pearls
The Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project is delivering a three year SITA funded project to improve
and extend breeding habitat for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary on FC sites in the Haldon Forest district
of Devon.
In the second year of management, 2.5ha of scrub control has been undertaken by contractors on
two sites, and 0.5ha of clear-felling is due to be completed before March 2013. FC are supportive of
the project, and are carrying out stump grinding on sites previously cleared of trees, and chemical
control to reduce grassiness in core flight areas. Several joint volunteer tasks are planned with BC
and FC volunteers for early 2013.
Planting of Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana plants has continued, with a further 1500 plug plants
planted at Great Plantation in clear-felled areas, where the surface soil has been scraped aside. Two
volunteer groups were involved in the planting, and volunteers also assisted with habitat surveys and
butterfly monitoring.
Contributed by Jenny Plackett, Two Moors Project Officer, [email protected]
4.7.3
Expanding the Large Blue in the Polden Hills
This project started in June 2011, funded until March 2014 and aims to consolidate the Polden Hills
network of Large Blue sites that support over 80% of the British population. The project aims to
increase the area of suitable habitat by 64.5ha by carrying out landscape scale habitat restoration on
a network of 14 sites in the Polden Hills. This will strengthen existing Large Blue populations and
encourage new populations to recolonise sites beyond the main Poldens Ridge. Detailed habitat
assessments, including ant surveys and food plant distribution, underpin the targeted management
work and help to determine the advice, which is offered to landowners, regarding appropriate grazing
regimes. Last year there has been a total of approximately 4ha of targeted scrub management
conducted by contractors on nine sites. There is another 4ha of site management agreed to be
completed before the end of March 2013 on the same nine sites and another 3ha planned for the final
year of the project in the winter of 2013/14.
Last year one of the project sites was successful in obtaining an HLS agreement for scrub, hedgerow
and grazing management. Our specialist contractor is continuing to work closely with NE examining
the possibility of management options in sites entering or with the potential of entering an HLS
agreement that will benefit Lepidoptera in other sites within the project area.
Wild Thyme planting was a major part of the project this year with a total of 5649 plants planted by
volunteers (3879) and a contractor (1770) over 11 volunteer days and 13 contractor days across
seven sites and taking at least 419 planting hours (not including contractor time). It has been a huge
success and would not have been possible without the partnership working of both the NT and the
Somerset Wildlife Trust volunteers working on each other’s sites with the Langport Explorer and
Scout group, BC Branch volunteers and local residents.
33
The volunteer development aspect of the project increased this year with the involvement of local
people volunteering on sites nearest to them. This has included them attending conservation days,
identification events and using their skills for casual and transect monitoring. Last year a new transect
was established on a South Somerset District Council site and walked by a total of 6 local residents.
Other sites that are owned by our other project partners NT, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Clarke Trust
have a mix of transects walked as well as casual recording by their volunteers as well as the local BC
Somerset branch volunteers. For example at the NT site at Collard Hill a Large Blue Warden annually
undertakes the task of walking a daily transect and engaging with the high number of visitors that
make their annual or first ever trip to see and record the Large Blue flying.
There have been a total of 15 events involving over 478 individuals (including BC and partner staff).
Eight events presenting and introducing the project were designed for the public as well as target
audiences to encourage involvement with the project, including monitoring. These were attended by
at least 181 individuals with an audience of over 40 local residents at a few introductory evenings.
Identification training days were held on three days on three different sites and attended by 60
individuals. One of those days was a huge success on Collard Hill with the students from Bridgwater
College Crockers Horticultural campus who are helping to propagate the thyme for planting on sites
to encourage the Large Blue to colonise.
Contributed by Caroline Kelly, Conservation Officer, [email protected]
4.7.4
Conserving the Painswick Valley’s Rare Butterflies
This two year project, which started in October 2012, aims to restore and improve habitat for both
Large Blue and Duke of Burgundy across 11 sites. Scrub management of 5.3ha on nine sites has
been planned to improve the condition of the important calcareous grassland habitat. The
propagation and planting of 4000 Wild Thyme and 4000 Primula plants is planned for five sites and it
is hoped to expand the breeding habitat for both butterflies. The targeting of the scrub management
and the planting locations and sites will be determined from the habitat assessments on all 11 sites in
the project area. Once suitable breeding habitat is established a re-introduction of Large Blue will be
considered.
Habitat surveys have commenced including ant surveys and food plant assessments on seven sites.
Targeted scrub management has already begun in the form of volunteer days which are being led by
various partners or site managers. There have been seven volunteer days involving 69 volunteers
conducting scrub management at four sites. Contractors have been selected for the three sites
requiring more complex scrub management (approx. 2ha) and work will began in January 2013.
Primula seed has been collected from three sites and delivered to two nurseries that are propagating
them for the project. One nursery has reported successful germination and they will be planted in
either spring or autumn this year.
Discussions with landowners, site managers and statutory organisations have been conducted to
help draw up a priority list of the sites where introductions would be most likely to succeed and
become sustainable. This will be progressed further during the spring.
Even though the project is in its early stages, the partnership with the project site managers Natural
England, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Upton and St Leonard local parish council and private
landowners is strengthening and is hoped to continue into the future.
Contributed by Caroline Kelly, Conservation Officer, [email protected]
4.7.5
Portland Limestone Grassland Restoration Project
The limestone grasslands of Portland, many of which have developed in former limestone quarries,
are nationally important for their rare flora and fauna, including populations of Eudarcia richardsoni
a UK endemic known only from Portland and one site on the Purbeck coast, as well as the distinctive
form of the Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus f. cretaceous. The grasslands owe their character
34
and richness to being sparsely vegetated but many areas are slowly being smothered by a blanket of
non-native plants, including Buddleia davidii and particularly the sprawling Cotoneaster integrifolius.
The Portland Limestone Grassland Restoration Project is an initiative developed by the Portland
Nature Conservation Forum, of which BC is a member, to tackle the problem of the highly invasive
Cotoneaster. The project is being delivered by Dorset Wildlife Trust, thanks to a grant of over £800k
from Viridor Credits (Landfill Communities Fund) through a programme of spraying, cutting and
burning. This ambitious three-year project, which started in 2011, aims to restore over 200ha of
limestone grassland habitat.
As part of the monitoring programme to assess the project’s effectiveness, BC began assessing
populations of Eudarcia richardsoni and monitoring a suite of limestone grassland butterflies and
moths by timed counts. Target species for the timed counts included Lulworth Skipper, Dingy
Skipper, Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue, Grayling and Chalk
Carpet. In 2012 eight quarries were monitored, including BC’s Broadcroft Quarry. Unsurprisingly
populations of most species were badly affected by the weather, although good numbers of all
species, except Lulworth Skipper and Adonis Blue, were recorded on at least some sites.
Contributed by: Dr Sam Ellis, Head of Regions, [email protected]
5
Lepidoptera Recording Updates
5.1
National Moth Recording Scheme
The National Moth Recording Scheme (NMRS) continues to expand and now holds over 15 million
moth records, two million more than this time last year. The 15 millionth record in the NMRS
database was that of an Early Thorn Selenia dentaria recorded in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, on
16 March 2012 by T.C. Sexton. The efforts of the data contributors; County Moth Recorders, Record
Collators, Local Record Centres and of course grass-roots moth recorders cannot go unrecognised,
many thanks to all of you for supporting the NMRS and contributing to its success.
Since the NMRS dataset was updated on the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway in
September 2012, we have received refreshed datasets from 27 vice-counties. The updated online
distribution maps will be available via the Moths Count website (www.mothscount.org) in due course.
The NMRS data are being extensively viewed and used via the NBN Gateway. Since March 2012 the
dataset has been accessed in excess of 100,000 times. This usage includes the production of 10km
species maps, species lists per 10km square and all of the other ‘interactive’ facilities available.
Overall the density of records per 10km square in the NMRS database has increased. However, we
still do not have any historical records (pre 2000) for Cornwall, Cumberland and Westmorland or
Angus. Historical records are important to enable assessments of species distribution change within
these areas. There is good coverage of records at 10km resolution from the year 2000 onwards,
however, one-third of 10km squares have fewer than 100 records and 7% of squares are ‘white
holes’ (no records at all), this could be due to under-recording or it could be because the County
Moth Recorders have not submitted the records to us as yet. Looking at the number of species
recorded per 10km square there are still some areas where more recording is required; 41% of the
UK (1,251 10km squares) have only 1-100 species recorded within them. So, we are still some way
off producing a full Atlas Great Britain and Ireland’s larger moths, which is an aspiration of the moth
recording community and ourselves.
The third National Moth Recorders’ Meeting was held on January 26 2013. Despite the threat of
snow it was another well attended day with 171 people through the doors. As with previous years the
audience travelled from far and wide and consisted of moth recording beginners to County Moth
Recorders’, land mangers’, conservationists and researchers. The interesting talks were delivered
from the amateur moth recording community, researchers and academics. We have received much
positive feedback and we’re already planning next year’s meeting.
The National Moth Recording Scheme is funded by Butterfly Conservation, Natural Resources Wales
(NRW), Forest Services, Forestry Commission England (FCE), Natural England (NE), Northern
35
Ireland Environment Agency (NEIA), The Redwing Trust, Royal Entomological Society and Scottish
Natural Heritage (SNH).
Contributed by Zoë Randle, Surveys Officer, [email protected]
5.2
Moth Night 2012
After a break for 2011, the revamped Moth Night 2012, organised jointly by Atropos and BC, took
place over 21–23 June. The emphasis was on moths on brownfield sites, with encouragement given
to promoting public events. For the first time, a new online recording system was introduced to help
streamline data management.
Around 6,000 records were received for the three days which is well below the normal volume of data
expected for Moth Night. Although the event was held over three days, the main factor for the low
return was yet again the weather, which is ironic as Moth Night is now being held over 3 days to
improve chances of reasonable weather for at least one night!
The introduction of online recording was generally well received although some teething problems
were experienced by some recorders. The full results and highlighted significant records will appear
in the spring 2013 issue of Atropos.
Moth Night 2013 will be held on 8– 10 August and will include a daytime element. The theme will be
'tiger moths'; in particular we want to encourage recorders to target the mixed fortunes of the rangeexpanding Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria and the declining Garden Tiger Arctia caja. Ruby
Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa will also be on the wing at this time and is an attractive species that
will doubtless be popular at public events. As always, recorders are free to pursue their own target
species and are encouraged to submit their data into the online recording system. Full details of the
event will appear in Atropos but it will follow a similar format to Moth Night 2012 (hopefully with better
weather!)
Contributed by Les Hill, Senior Data Manager, National Moth Recording Scheme, [email protected]
5.3
Butterflies for the New Millennium
The Butterflies for the New Millennium (BNM) project, the butterfly distribution recording scheme for
Britain and Ireland, continued successfully during 2012. The year was the third in the current fiveyear survey (2010-2014) and numbers of records are expected to be relatively low as a result of the
terrible weather that affected most parts of Britain and Ireland during much of 2012.
A major activity during the year was the collation of records for the preceding year, 2011. As usual,
there was a great response from BNM Local Co-ordinators/County Recorders and over 452,330
butterfly records for 2011 have been submitted and collated into the BNM database. Datasets of
2012 records are already arriving and being processed ahead of the annual data deadline on 31
March.
Feedback was maintained with the recording community and wider public via newsletters and articles
in Butterfly magazine and the mainstream media. The annual National Butterfly Recorders’ Meeting
took place on 17 March 2012 and was very successful – 113 people attended, which is the largest
audience ever for the meeting which has been running since the 1990s.
On the software front, there were two exciting developments during the year. Work commenced with
the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) (who are very kindly funding the development) and Bristol
University to develop a butterfly recording smart phone app for the BNM recording scheme. The app
should be ready for the next butterfly recording season (i.e. around Easter 2013) and will be available
in iPhone and Android versions. Records will be stored in the CEH data ‘warehouse’ from where they
can be accessed directly by BNM Co-ordinators or downloaded annually by BC Head Office and sent
out to all BNM Co-ordinators in spreadsheet format. Second, Jim Asher has been redeveloping the
Levana recording software so that it will work on the new generation of 64bit operating systems, such
as Windows 7. A beta version of the record input, edit, search and export module is being tested.
36
Research use of BNM data continued during the year, involving a wide range of Universities and
Institutes. Six scientific papers were published in peer-reviewed academic journals during the year,
including one in each of the very high-ranking international journals Science and Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences USA.
Funding for the BNM project remained strong during 2012. Each of the UK statutory nature
conservation agencies: NRW, NE, the NIEA and SNH provide funding, as well as Forest Services,
FCE and the Redwing Trust.
Most importantly, many thanks to all those butterfly recorders and Local Co-ordinators who
participated in the BNM recording scheme during 2012.
Contributed by Richard Fox, Surveys Manager, [email protected]
5.4
Butterfly monitoring – progress in 2012
2012 marked the fifteenth year of national collation of butterfly transect data by BC. The data
contributes to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), jointly run by BC and CEH. The
scheme is funded by a consortium of governmental agencies led by Joint Nature Conservation
Committee (JNCC) with current funding secured until April 2014.
The UKBMS III project, which runs from 2011-2014 has six main workstreams described below:
1. Maintenance of the core scheme of over 1,000 sites (~90% transects) which are currently
monitored by over 1,500 recorders annually. This includes core actions such as the
maintenance of current databases, collation of the transect and other annual monitoring data,
analysis and production of annual butterfly trends at UK and country level, and by habitat type
and the dissemination of these trends at the annual National Recorder’s Meeting and in the
annual report to recorders.
2. Operation of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Scheme (WCBS), supporting annual sampling at
approximately 700 sites. Analysis will be undertaken to test for differences in species trends
between WCBS and core UKBMS sites (which predominantly sample semi-natural habitats).
3. Regional development of the UKBMS: to develop and promote standards for more systematic
monitoring of target species
4. Annual update of butterfly biodiversity indicators: for UK, England and Scotland. See
http://www.ukbms.org/butterflies_as_indicators.htm.
5. Analytical developments related to obtaining more indices from existing data and calculating
national collated indices using both WCBS and core scheme data.
6. Development and implementation of online recording for the UKBMS, to be tested in 2012.
The online system will aim to facilitate improved feedback to recorders, enabling the status of
butterfly populations to be reported more rapidly. Online recording will encompass both core
scheme and WCBS data, with separate data entry screens for each. Key features of the
Transect Walker software will be retained where possible, whilst this software will remain as
an alternative option for submitting data.
Highlights from the core scheme in 2012 included:
Data collation
In spite of dreadful weather, 2012 was another record year for data capture – by the end of January
2013, data from 979 transects had been collated, compared with 966 transects the previous year
(1.3% increase). Remarkably, the number of transects contributing to the scheme has increased year
on year in all but one of the 36 year series (the Foot and Mouth year of 2001 being the exception).
Reporting
A National Recorders meeting was held in March 2012 and attended by c.100 people. The
production of the UKBMS annual feedback report to recorders for the 2011 season was completed in
late winter 2012. The 54-page report contains the latest trends and results from the UKBMS and can
be downloaded from www.ukbms.org. The report highlighted that in 2011 trends were assessed for
56 of the 59 regularly occurring UK species, which is two more than ever before, with the inclusion of
Swallowtail Papilio machaon and Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia.
37
2011 was a record breaking year for butterflies being on the wing early as a result of the
exceptionally warm spring, with 22 species showing their earliest flight dates since monitoring began
in 1976 - species such as Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines and Green Hairstreak Callophrys
rubi were on the wing up to three weeks earlier on average than in 2010. A further 10 species
recorded their second earliest flight dates. Spring species had a superb year with Orange-tip having
its best year on record and a number of Priority Species showing large annual increases: Pearlbordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne and Duke of Burgundy Hamaeris lucina in particular had a
good year with increases greater than 50% compared to 2010. After a superb start, the season
repeated the pattern of 2007-2010 and fell away with cool and wet summer weather resulting in the
majority of later summer species having a poor year. As a result, it was a distinctly average year
overall, ranking 18 in the 36–year series. A number of species that had a superb year in 2010
showed large annual declines, including Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia, Wood White Leptidea
sinapis, Common Blue Polyommatus icarus and Brown Argus Aricia agestis. Amongst some of
those species that fared poorly in 2011 were species that have been showing long-term declines.
After a modest recovery in 2009 and little change in 2010 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae
declined again in 2011 producing its fourth lowest index of the series. High Brown Fritillary
Argynnis adippe numbers, already at their third lowest since 1978 in 2010, showed no change in
2011 despite many of the other threatened fritillary species having a good year.
Regional development
A Regional development plan (2012-2014) was produced for BC volunteers and Regional Staff - to
improve targeting of new recording effort and also monitoring coverage of habitat specialist species
occurring in the UK. The plan promotes increased use of reduced effort monitoring methods to help
fill these coverage gaps. New guidance on methods (timed counts and Marsh Fritillary larval webs)
was compiled and circulated to BC Branches and conservation partners. Current guidance forms are
available for download in the ‘Resources’ area of the UKBMS website - www.ukbms.org. New
guidance on monitoring numbers of Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae eggs will be available in
summer 2013. An online facility for timed counts and larval web searches has been built into Online
Transect Walker and will be available for data entry in 2013. Please continue to check the UKBMS
website for the latest news on these developments.
Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS)
The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) is the main scheme for monitoring population
changes of the UK's common and widespread butterflies. The survey is a partnership project run
jointly by BC, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and CEH. The WCBS ran for its fourth year in
2012 and despite the terrible weather across the UK, participation was at an all time high. In total
1,548 visits were made to 771 randomly selected 1km squares by 648 recorders, who collectively
counted 64,452 butterflies of 46 species. This is a substantial improvement in volunteer effort, with a
17% increase (114) in squares sampled than in 2011. The number of recorders was up by 20%;
however, the number of butterflies counted fell by 5% compared to 2011.
In 2012 82% of the UK’s regularly occurring butterfly species were recorded. Pearl-bordered Fritillary,
Wood White, Brown Hairstreak and Swallowtail were not recorded in 2012. But Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus malvae, Marsh Fritillary and Purple Emperor Apatura iris were recorded again after an
absence in 2011. The Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes was recorded for the third year
being present in eight squares.
Good coverage (present in 30 squares or more) was achieved for most of the target wider
countryside species, the exceptions being Brown Argus and Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops.
Optional spring visits occurred at 98 squares increasing coverage for spring flying species such as
the Orange-tip which was present in 52 squares.
For the fourth consecutive year Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina was the most abundant species,
18,629 individuals were counted in July and August, almost twice as many as in 2011. Meadow
Brown was also the most widespread butterfly for the third successive year occurring in 89% of
squares, compared with 81% in 2010 and 2011. The majority of other species fared poorly; in fact it
was the worst year in the four year series. Mean butterfly abundance has declined year on year in the
WCBS and diversity is approximately half that encountered in 2009. On average, recorders counted
44 butterflies of four species per survey made over July and August in 2012, compared with 80
38
butterflies and eight species in 2009. Small Tortoiseshell had another bad year, occurring in less than
half of squares sampled and in less than half the numbers counted in 2011. Wall Brown Lasiommata
megera was only found in 4% of squares in 2012 and numbers were down by 30%. Common Blue
also had a terrible year being found in 50% fewer squares than in 2011.
Moths and Dragonflies
Recorders were encouraged to count day-flying moths and dragonflies within their WCBS squares.
Records were generated for 403 squares (52% of the total). In total, 947 individual moths of 39
species; (two fewer than last year) were counted. For the fourth consecutive year, Silver Y
Autographa gamma was the most widespread species, being recorded in over half (121) of squares.
The Silver Y was also the most abundant moth, with a total of 280 individuals were counted. The
second most widespread moth for the fourth year in a row was the Six-spot Burnet Zygaena
filipendulae with 247 individuals counted from 45 squares, with this species being almost twice as
widespread and abundant as 2011.
Twenty-eight species of dragonfly were recorded, three more than in 2011, with 3,166 individuals
counted. The most abundant species was the Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
(890 counted), whilst the second most abundant species was the Common Darter Sympetrum
striolatum (534 counted). It was a good year for the latter species, with twice as many counted as in
2011 and presence in twice as many squares. Full details of the survey are available on the UKBMS
website and via the annual feedback newsletter which has been sent to be sent to all participants.
The WCBS will run for a fifth year in 2013, and at a welcome higher resource level for training and
promotion. The scheme is vital to help us assess whether nationwide conservation measures are
having a measureable impact in helping to conserve and restore butterflies across the countryside as
a whole. There are many squares available for survey across the UK and new volunteers are
welcome to get involved. We really need your help to substantially increase coverage.
All that is required is two core visits per year to an allocated 1km square (one in July and one in
August) with an optional spring visit to count Orange-tips and other early flying species. Depending
upon the terrain one visit takes approximately an hour. For further details on how to take part contact
the National WCBS Coordinator, Zoë Randle ([email protected]) or 01929 406006.
Contributed by Dr. Tom Brereton, Head of Monitoring, [email protected], Ian
Middlebrook, Butterfly Monitoring Co-ordinator, [email protected] and Dr Zöe
Randle, Surveys Officer, [email protected]
6
News and Notes
6.1
Butterfly Conservation Europe – summary for 2012
This year BC Europe successfully joined forces with the European Forum on Nature Conservation and
Pastoralism (EFNCP) to obtain an EU core grant for a joint programme that focussed on improving
European policies on biodiversity and High Nature Value farming, as well as promoting butterflies as
indicators. They employed Sue Collins as a joint Policy Advisor, working with their expert Guy Beaufoy.
Together, they worked with the European Habitats Forum to comment on various EU policy documents
and make the case for HNV farming as part of the CAP reform 2015 process.
There are already butterfly monitoring transects in 19 countries, but there are gaps in several
Mediterranean and eastern European countries. In order to improve the network we produced a
Butterfly Monitoring Manual which has been translated into Spanish and Romanian (Van Swaay et al,
2012). We also ran workshops in both Spain and Romania to explain the transect method and
establish networks of interested volunteers and professional entomologists. In order to make the case
for further development of butterfly monitoring, we produced a report describing the current situation
and options for developing a suite of European indicators using butterflies (Van Swaay& Warren,
2012).
Under a separate contract with Dutch BC, we produced an update of the European Grassland
Butterfly Indicator, which is made up from collated indices of 17 characteristic grassland species. The
results showed a continuing decline of these species, by almost 50% in 20 years.
39
150
Butterfly Conservation Europe / Statistics Netherlands
The European Butterfly Indicator for Grassland
species 1990-2011. The indicator is based on Butterfly
Monitoring Schemes in nineteen European countries
and seventeen characteristic grassland butterfly
species. The indicator shows a decline of over 50% in
20 years.
100
50
Europe
0
1990
1995
2000
2005
2011
Countries contributing their data to the
European Grassland Butterfly Indicator:
Andorra (part of the Catalan scheme): since 2004
Belgium (Flanders): since 1991
Estonia: since 2004
Finland: since 1999
France: since 2005 (Doubs area 2001-2004)
Germany: since 2005 (Nordrhein-Westfalen since
2001, Pfalz-region for P. nausithous since 1989)
Ireland: since 2007
Jersey: 2004-2009
Lithuania: since 2009
Luxembourg: since 2010
Norway: since 2009 (not used in indicator)
Portugal: 1998-2006
Romania: starting up
Russia - Bryansk area: since 2009
Slovenia: since 2007
Spain (Catalonia: since 1994, Andalusia,
Extremadura and Basque country starting up)
Sweden: since 2010
Switzerland: since 2003 (Aargau since 1998)
The Netherlands: since 1990
Ukraine (Transcarpathia): since 1990
United Kingdom: since 1976
In 2011 approximately 3500 transects were
counted.
We have been awarded a contract with IUCN to produce a Red List of Mediterranean butterflies.
Experts have been found in almost every country surrounding the Mediterranean Sea to provide data
to make an objective assessment. In 2011 and 2012 drafts of all maps and species accounts were
produced for the Mediterranean area. This material will be used to produce a first draft of the Red List
early in 2013 to be discussed fully at a workshop in Malaga during February.
We successfully applied for a MAVA grant to produce species recovery plans for 4 species that are
endangered and endemic to Spain: Euchloe bazae, Agriades zullichi, Polyommatus violetae and
P. golgus. Fieldwork started in July 2012 with the objective of starting to gather data on population,
habitat and threats for three of the four species. The project involves staff of the Sierra Nevada
National Park, Zerynthia and Plebejus (NGOs working on the conservation of butterflies in Spain),
professors and students from the Autónoma University of Madrid, amateur lepidopterists from
Granada and volunteers from the European Interest Group (EIG) of BC-UK.
Thanks to a small small grant from the Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) fund, we have begun a study on
the Macedonian Grayling Psuedochazara cingovskii, one of two Critically Endangered butterfly
species in Europe (the other, the Madeiran Large White Pieris wollastoni, is thought to be extinct). A
team of local experts and volunteers from Serbia and Dutch BC surveyed the only known site, which
40
is threatened by marble quarrying. Several new localities were found and mark-recapture
experiments estimated the original core population to be over 3,000 adults. Thanks to this new
information, we are recommending that the species can be downgraded to Endangered. As part of
the conservation programme, a sign board explaining the butterfly and its requirements was erected
at the core site and leaflets were distributed to the owners of all known sites, most of which are
currently being quarried for marble. We hope to engage with the owners in future to ensure that the
habitat is restored after quarrying to ensure a good long term future for the species.
All reports and a full Activity Report is available on the BCE website www.bc-europe.org
Contributed by Dr Martin Warren, [email protected]
References
Munguira, M., Warren, M.S., Wolterbeek, T., Maes, D., Verovnik, R.,Šašić, M., Collins, S., Miteva, S.,
Wiemers, M., Wynhoff, I., Settele, J. & Van Swaay, C.A.M. 2012. Butterfly Conservation Europe.
Activity Report 2011 and 2012. Butterfly Conservation Europe, Wageningen.
Van Swaay, C.A.M., Brereton, T., Kirkland, P. and Warren, M.S. 2012. Manual for Butterfly
Monitoring. Report VS2012.010, De Vlinderstichting/Dutch Butterfly Conservation, Butterfly
Conservation UK & Butterfly Conservation Europe, Wageningen.
Van Swaay, C.A.M. & Warren, M.S. 2012. Developing butterflies as indicators in Europe:
current situation and future options. Report VS2012.012. De Vlinderstichting/Dutch Butterfly
Conservation, Butterfly Conservation UK, Butterfly Conservation Europe, Wageningen.
6.2
Update on Butterfly Conservation Reserves in 2012
In May 2012 BC purchased an exciting new reserve in the Cotswolds. Rough Bank, near The Camp,
Stroud, comprises 3 land parcels totalling 18ha the largest of which (almost 10ha) is SSSI. The site
had been carefully managed over the previous decade by Natural England (NE) and the National
Trust (NT) under their Cotswold Grazing Project in agreement with the previous owners. The cattle
grazing and other works under the owners’ Higher Level Stewardship Scheme agreement was
getting the site into very good condition, but the whole farm of which it was part had to be sold off.
Thanks to generous donations from BC supporters through an emergency appeal and a major grant
from NE, and the supportive cooperation of the vendors, BC was able to purchase the site. Two
largely unimproved fields linking with the SSSI and associated woodland, but lying alongside the
access from the public highway were included in the purchase to continue providing back-up grazing
land for the NT’s cattle. These are used to graze a series of important conservation grassland sites in
this key landscape but at certain times of the year need to be kept off the more sensitive grasslands
on more productive and resilient pasture. These fields nevertheless have reasonable floras which are
improving in quality.
The reserve supports 4 species of blue butterflies (Adonis Polyommatus bellargus, Chalkhill
Lysandra coridon, Small Cupido minimus and Common P. icarus) as well as a good range of other
grassland butterflies. It was a known site for our native Large Blue Phengaris arion before it became
extinct in the Cotswolds in the 1970s, and is a prospective site for a future re-introduction when
suitable again. The site also used to support Duke of Burgundy Hamaeris lucina and with good
scope for restoring its habitat, natural re-colonisation from a colony about 2km away is a good
prospect.
The high quality Cotswold grassland provides a rich flora with a notable assemblage of orchids such
as Fly Ophrys insectifera, Bee O. apifera, Green-winged Orchis morio, Pyramidal Anacamptis
pyramidalis, Fragrant Gymnadenia conopsea and Lesser Butterfly Platanthera bifolia. The woods
support both White Cephalanthera damasonium and Broad-leaved Helleborines Epipactis
helleborine.
The moths were not well known at the time of purchase except for a relatively recent record for
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris tityus but Gloucestershire Branch member Guy
Meredith has been avidly surveying since last spring producing a growing list with many interesting
species. By the end of last summer the site list totalled 242 (160 micros & 82 macros) – of which 234
41
had been recorded that year. This includes 27 of the 28 nationally scarce (Na & Nb) and nationally
rare (pRDB) species currently known from the site, mostly micro-moths. These included a first ever
county record for Trifurcula headleyella (pRDB2) whose larvae mine Self-heal Prunella vulgaris
leaves, and firsts for Coleophora niveicostella (pRDB3) since 1916 and for Epermenia profugella
(pRDB2) since 1983.
As parking and access facilities for this new reserve are still in development visiting arrangements
are presently limited.
Two existing BC reserves were extended during the year following the principles in our recently
revised acquisition strategy. These are to consolidate sites with further habitat for the key species
and land that can facilitate or improve our management of the reserves. With reserves often being
steep or with other characteristics that make them unappealing to many commercial cattle graziers
and the low numbers of animals needed at any one time to undertake the usually light or extensive
stocking regimes, finding stock for this vital management mechanism is usually a struggle. The
limitations imposed by bovine TB testing are also increasingly an issue and having pasture of lower
conservation value onto which stock can be removed, or kept to provide more flexibility in grazing
regimes, has become a necessity.
Hampshire’s Magdalen Hill Down reserve has been extended again by leasing a further 3.5ha of
rough grassland which can hold grazing stock when they are not needed on other parts of the
reserve. The Old Allotments is an area at the Winchester end of this south-facing escarpment which
before the M3 cutting separated it from the city, had for many years been used as allotments. It also
supports some neglected chalk grassland habitat.
First established in the early 1990s the reserve now covers 45ha of original restored chalk downland
and is a haven for flowery chalk grassland and its butterflies especially the Chalkhill Blue.
Our grazing system is changing to use fewer animals but for longer periods and to start using them
on the key habitat areas in low numbers during the spring and summer months. It will particularly
involve using the hardy Shetland and Hebridean sheep that also graze the nearby water meadows
for the Hampshire Wildlife & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. These are keen on browsing the young scrub
growth that is a constant control issue on this site. Keeping the increasingly lush grass growth in
check is another challenge, and for this the sheep will be joined by a conservation herd of British
White cattle belonging to Rue Ekins (Grazing Officer for the Trust) and Richard Collingridge.
Marsh Fritillaries Euphydryas aurinia were seen back on Caeau Ffos Fach during summer 2012,
bringing much relief after a few years without confirmation of their continued presence on this
reserve. During this time they moved around nearby sites in this key landscape as suitable habitat
became available there. The Mynydd Mawr project was a major landscape initiative started by BC in
this part of Carmarthenshire some 8 years ago and funded by the Countryside Council for Wales
(CCW). The habitat improvements it made on many sites, together with the better awareness of the
Marsh Fritillary’s needs are still in evidence. That has improved prospects for sustaining the species
meta-population, and also benefits the functioning of our relatively small reserve. Early in 2013 BC
completed negotiations with CCW (now part of Natural Resources Wales – NRW) to lease Median
Farm – a small abandoned farmstead adjacent to our reserve. Covering just over 10ha it has 4.4ha
of SSSI Rhos pasture which connects directly with our reserve. These fields have been grazed
together in the past and have also long provided a combined habitat resource for the butterfly. The
holding also has a further 5.6ha of semi-improved grassland of varying character, some which can
readily become suitable for Marsh Fritillary whilst the remainder will provide the additional, drier
pasture that is needed to support the cattle herd and a much more flexible grazing regime.
Contributed by John Davis, Head of Reserves, [email protected]
Prees Heath Common Reserve
The ambitious programme of works on 29ha of previously intensively cultivated arable land to recreate heathland continues as a long term project. In 2012 the results on the 6.5ha area sown with
heather brash in 2007 have been successful to the extent that this is now considered restored. Last
autumn we were able to brush harvest heather seed from this area to sow on other areas where
42
heathland is yet to be fully established.
Brush harvesting seed on a restored area
A grant from the Veolia Environmental Trust in 2012 facilitated this work, as well as the following:
 Restoring to grassland 2.5ha where spoil from the pond excavated in 2010 was spread.
 Enabling 160 children from Prees CE Primary School to access the reserve to see and learn
about the Silver-studded Blue.
 Contracting Dave Grundy of DG Countryside to survey for moths from May to September 2012.
This has brought the total Lepidoptera list for the reserve up to 459 species. Two species new
to Shropshire were recorded - Chionodes fumatella & Chionodes distinctella.
 Repeating the ant survey conducted in 2009 on two of the restoration areas, with aim of
tracking colonisation of the new habitats by the Black Ant Lasius niger with which the Silverstudded Blue has a symbiotic association.
 Continued work to remove ruderal weeds and seedlings of birch and willow throughout the
reserve.
 Installation of a new information panel outlining the richness of wildlife to be found on the
Common.
An application to place the reserve into the Higher Level Stewardship scheme agreement starting in
April 2013 has been submitted to NE. The Silver-studded Blue transect, which has been walked
since 1991, saw its second lowest count in 2012, probably due to the poor summer weather.
Meres and Mosses Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPA) and Nature Improvement Area (NIA):
Part funding for some restoration of the old airfield control tower on the reserve, along with
production of interpretation resources and habitat improvement works has been secured from this
major landscape project. We hope these works will come to fruition in 2013 and will include a detailed
description of the ecology of the Silver-studded Blue.
The Meres and Mosses area of North Shropshire, south Cheshire, and a small part of Wales is of
international importance, and a Landscape Partnership Scheme has been established involving key
nature conservation and other organisations, including BC. Grants of approaching £2m have been
made by the Heritage Lottery Fund and, as a NIA, by NE. Prees Heath Common Reserve falls within
this area and has already benefitted by way of access improvements.
The ambitious five year programme will deliver over 300 individual projects aimed at conservation,
community engagement, access, heritage skills and learning. Communities and landowners are
being engaged to have their say in how key sites will be conserved and managed in their locality.
Advice and assistance will be available to farmers focused on nutrient management, diffuse pollution,
habitat restoration and agri-environment schemes. Grants will be available to both communities and
landowners for projects which enhance conservation within their area.
Last year, as a precursor to the Meres and Mosses programme, a training event on butterfly
identification and recording was held at The Moors in Ellesmere where Small Pearl-bordered
Fritillary Boloria selene had been recorded 20 years previously and where Shropshire Council had
43
carried out some scrub clearance. Surprisingly, one Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary was found. The
event will be repeated later this year at this site and on Whixall Moss, another site where historical
records exist for this species. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary as well as a range of other lepidoptera
should benefit from the project.
Contributed by Stephen Lewis, Prees Heath Officer, [email protected]
6.3
Conserving Lepidoptera on Forestry Commission Land
In England, BC has been working with Forestry Commission England (FCE) to implement the priorities
identified in Lepidoptera on Forestry Commission land in England, Conservation Strategy 2007-2017.
The Strategy details 140 FCE sites known to be important for butterfly and moth species. Due to the
changes of the FCE Districts, site disposals and acquisitions, management practices and resulting
Lepidoptera presence the strategy is currently under review.
In 2012 BC regional and head office staff have visited a minimum of 41 priority sites listed in the
Conservation Strategy to carry out habitat assessments, Lepidoptera surveys, practical habitat
management (through 43 work parties or by managing contractors on site), to provide management
advice and to lead public events and training workshops. Management advice has been provided on a
minimum of 30 priority sites.
Each year at least one Forest District review meeting has been held with relevant FCE staff, BC staff
and local recorders involved with monitoring the priority sites listed in the strategy. However, due to
structural and staff changes in FCE a ‘District Review’ meeting was not held in 2012. Once the new FCE
District Ecologists settle into their posts, the mid-term review of the Lepidoptera on Forestry Commission
land in England, Conservation Strategy 2007-2017 is complete and an FCE Ecologist meeting has taken
place, one of the six Forest District areas will be selected as a priority and a review planned for this
coming year.
The publication, Speckled Wood, a biannual email newsletter, is distributed to FCE staff, local butterfly
and moth recorders and BC branches. It is envisaged that this will promote good management practices
through the exchange of information and reports of Lepidoptera success as well as ensuring the profile
of the Conservation Strategy is maintained. In 2012 reports included; South East England Forest District
Update-Part 2, Saving Devons Precious Pearls project at Haldon Forest update, Shoulder-striped Clover
in the New Forest, Considerations for moth recording, Wood White Recovery in Northamptonshire,
Brown Hairstreak Project results, Chalkhill Blues at Friston Forest, Bare Ground Ride Management in
the Brecks for the Basil Thyme Case-bearer and Grey Carpet moths and Mothing in Maulden Wood as
well as advertising some new publications.
BC has a number of projects in key landscapes which include work on priority sites listed in the
Conservation Strategy. Work in partnership with FC has taken place in a variety of formats from
monitoring (e.g. habitat condition assessments in Haldon Forest), site restoration (e.g BC and FC
volunteers planting violets at Great Plantation) to BC led funding for major habitat restoration work.
During the past year, BC staff and volunteers have worked on priority FCE sites through the following
ongoing projects; Blackdown Hills project, Saving Devon's Precious Pearls, Dukes on the Edge, and
Conserving North York Moors Limestone Grassland for Dukes and Pearls Project. New projects that
commenced in 2012 include; Morecombe Bay Limestones Phase 2, Morecombe Bay Limestones and
Wetlands NIA, Re-connecting the Wyre, West Midlands FC/BC Lepidoptera Strategy and Northants
Wood White. The following projects where work has taken place this year but the projects have now
come to an end; the Midlands Fritillaries Project, Norfolk Brecks Heathland Restoration for Threatened
Butterflies and Moths Project, Conserving the High Brown Fritillary on the Morecambe Bay Limestones
Project. See section 4 for more information about these projects.
Regionally, in the South West, there have been at least 36 visits made to FC sites through the Two
Moors Project and Action for Threatened Species on at least 20 sites. The purpose of the visits was a
combination of species monitoring or surveys, habitat assessments and monitoring as well as
management advice and planning. A highlight from this area is that during species surveys, Drab
Looper Minoa murinata was found on two new sites in the New Forest area. The record of its presence
at one of those sites will change the sites grading to a Priority A site from a B.
44
Contributed by Caroline Kelly, Conservation Officer. For more information about the Strategy, BC’s work
on FCE sites, or to receive a copy of the email newsletter (Speckled Wood), please contact Caroline
Kelly, [email protected], 01929 406029.
6.4
The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013
BC and Rothamsted Research have collaborated to produce a new report on the changing fortunes of
macro-moths in Great Britain. This updates the first State of Britain’s Larger Moths report, which was
published in 2006. Copies of the new report, kindly funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, have
already been circulated to County Moth Recorders, BC Branches, conservation organisations, politicians
and policy makers and the report is freely available on the Moths Count website (www.mothscount.org).
Further copies are being distributed via meetings of local moth groups, stalls at public events and by BC
Branches.
The report is based mainly on a new analysis of 40-years of nightly moth counts from the Rothamsted
Insect Survey’s (RIS) national network of standard light-traps. From this unique dataset, 40-year
population trends have been generated for the period 1968-2007 both for the total abundance of macromoths and for 337 individual species of generally widespread and common macro-moths. In addition,
separate analyses were carried out for the northern and southern halves of Britain.
The results of the RIS analysis are clear and dramatic. Across Britain, the total abundance of larger
moths declined significantly, by 28%, during the 40-year period. However, this overall decline masks
distinct differences across the nation. In the southern half of Britain, the declines were severe; a 40%
decrease in total moth numbers over 40 years. In contrast, moth abundance showed no significant trend
in northern Britain, where declines were balanced out by increasing species. A similar north vs south
pattern is evident in butterfly populations (see The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2011 report).
Among the 337 common and widespread moths, 227 species (two-thirds of the total) decreased over
the 40-year period, including 124 species (37% of the total) whose populations more than halved. The
most severely declining species were the V-moth Macaria wauaria (99% decrease), Garden Dart
Euxoa nigricans (98% decrease) and Double Dart Graphiphora augur (98% decrease).
On the other hand, 110 species (one-third of the total) became more abundant, with 53 species (16% of
the total) more than doubling their populations over 40 years. Notable examples include the Least
Carpet Idaea rusticata, Blair’s Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri and Buff Footman Eilema
depressa.
The north vs south divide was also evident among these individual species trends, with species tending
to fare far worse, on average, in the southern half of Britain than in the north. The average (median) 40year population trend in southern Britain was -43%, while in the northern half it was -11%.
45
Generally, the rates of decline of moths have tended to moderate a little since the first State of Britain’s
Larger Moths report in 2006, but this does not apply to all species and, in any rate, makes negligible
difference to the overall pattern of long-term decline.
Although mainly based on the analysis of RIS data, The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2013 report
contains much else of interest. Data from the National Moth Recording Scheme are used show how the
distributions of some moths have receded, while those of others have spread, in parallel with the
population changes revealed by the Rothamsted analysis. In addition, there are sections on
colonisations and extinctions, causes of change and moth conservation.
See the report in full at http://www.mothscount.org/text/19/moths_in_decline.html
Contributed by: Richard Fox, Surveys Manager, [email protected]
6.5
Landscape Scale Conservation Report
Over the past decade BC has shifted much of its effort to conserve our most threatened species from a
focus on single sites to targeting networks of sites across a landscape. This new approach was a
response to scientific studies of how butterfly populations behaved in our fragmented countryside.
Researchers found that populations on different sites were not completely independent and movement
of butterflies between them occurred. So if a population became extinct on one site then providing there
was another population nearby then that site may be recolonised. As long as there are as many
colonisations as extinctions, then overall the butterfly could be said to be doing okay at the landscapescale.
The purpose of landscape-scale conservation is still to maintain populations by improving the quality of
habitat by clearing scrub, coppicing or grazing etc. But, we try to do that across several sites, and may
give a higher priority to a site at the centre of a network than one on the periphery. We also aim to
improve connectivity within a landscape, making it easier for butterflies to find new or restored sites, by
felling a strategically located plantation which is a barrier to dispersal or sowing a flower-rich field
margin. For woodland butterflies, ride-widening can be especially beneficial in landscape-scale
conservation, not only improving connectivity but providing breeding habitat it its own right.
New report provides the evidence that landscape-scale conservation really does work
Last December BC published a report drawing together our experience gained from delivering
conservation at a landscape-scale. The report describes 12 case studies from around the UK, including
project delivery mechanisms, funding sources, land management changes and the impact on target
species. We believe this report is groundbreaking because this is the first time a wildlife organisation
has been able to produce evidence that landscape-scale conservation really works. A number of
common themes emerge from these case studies; lessons which we believe are applicable to
conserving all wildlife.
Lessons from 15 years of landscape-scale conservation
Landscape-scale projects are nearly always implemented on land that BC does not own and therefore a
skilled project officer is essential, firstly to inform owners of the value of their land for wildlife and
secondly, to provide the specialist advice to ensure sites are managed to maximise their potential. This
is most successfully achieved where project officers can build up long-term relationships with
landowners, contractors, volunteers, partner organisations and local community groups who help deliver
the work on the ground.
Our most threatened butterflies and moths nearly all have specialised requirements which can only be
met in quite specific habitats. Many of our rarer woodland butterflies are only found in open, sunny
clearings and rides and do not easily find new habitat within a wooded landscape. So it is imperative
that management such as coppicing or ride-widening is targeted in the right places, to give a species the
best chance of colonising the new habitat.
Thanks to our amazing volunteers and dedicated staff, BC has one of the most effective wildlife
monitoring systems around - essential to monitor the effectiveness of landscape-scale projects. We can
46
undertake surveys across landscapes and map where colonies are found, calculating how many new
colonies have been established or how much new habitat has been colonised. We can also measure
changes in abundance, through transects and timed counts, within a landscape and compare that to
national trends. All vital when we need to justify that money has been well spent.
The rapidity at which butterflies and moths respond to landscape-scale conservation is also a bonus and
can help justify funding. Even within a three-year project significant changes can occur. In Warwickshire
the number of Small Blue colonies increased from three to eight in three years and some colonisations
took place in the same year as management. (Work targeted at one species can also benefit others
using the same habitat, and not just other butterflies and moths.)
Landscape-scale projects are not short-term fixes and need proper funding. In our experience at least
£100,000 is needed and three years is the minimum timeframe. Costs for land management vary
enormously depending on habitat and degree of restoration needed. Leave encroaching scrub on a
Duke of Burgundy site for another 10 years and the cost of removing it will be much greater - action
now is cheaper than later. Key sources of funding have been the Landfill Communities Fund and the
Heritage Lottery Fund, with agri-environment and woodland grant schemes both an important delivery
mechanism and a means of sustaining the project benefits. In some cases our projects have helped
revitalise rural businesses by restoring woodlands to enable woodfuel enterprises to be established.
All our landscape-scale work is delivered in partnership, in some cases with as many as 15 different
organisations involved in a single project. When you add in all the landowners, volunteers and
community groups, it amounts to a huge number of people working together with a shared vision of how
that landscape should look in the future.
We believe we now have a blueprint for survival, not just for our most threatened butterflies and moths
but also for many other wildlife groups.
Contributed by: Dr Sam Ellis, Head of Regions, [email protected]
6.6
Butterfly Conservation Publicity Review
OVERVIEW
The weird weather of 2012 proved a key factor in much of BC’s press activity with the record-breaking
wet summer having a dire affect on many species. Major campaigns such as the Big Butterfly Count,
WCBS/UKBMS received widespread publicity and the launch of our Landscape Scale Report was
heralded across the environmental movement. Our social media presence went from strength to
strength with a dramatically increased following on Twitter and Facebook.
MAJOR PRESS RELEASES
:: Big Butterfly Count, launch and results (July and September)
:: Europe Report (May)
:: Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (February)
:: UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (April)
:: Save Our Butterflies Week (May)
:: Rough Bank (Large Blue) (May)
:: Landscape Scale Report (December)
:: Painted Lady (October)
:: Moth Night 2012 (June)
:: Farmland Butterfly Initiative (October)
BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT
The majority of the environmental press lobby as well as Sky News and the BBC attended London Zoo
to watch Sir David Attenborough launch the Big Butterfly Count. The weather hampered the Count with
a much lower number of butterflies seen on average counts. BBC Countryfile covered the results as an
exclusive.
SAVE OUR BUTTERFLIES WEEK
A series of videos were produced to promote our conservation work and reserves as part of Save Our
Butterflies Week. SOBW was covered by the BBC and Sunday Telegraph amongst others.
MOTH NIGHT 2012
A weekend of incessant rain hampered Moth Night last year with a number of planned events cancelled
due to the weather. The event still gained widespread coverage with stories running in the Telegraph,
47
Independent, Daily Mail, BBC website and BBC Radio 1.
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
To coincide with the launch of the new website last December the press office also launched a monthly
e-newsletter ‘All Aflutter’ going to all Big Butterfly Count participants with sign up available via the
website.
Contributed by Liam Creedon, Publicity Manager. For further information contact Natalie Ngo,
[email protected]
6.7
The Moth Challenge Fund (supported by the Patsy Wood Trust)
Moths are a beautiful and endlessly fascinating part of our natural world. They play a vital role in the
functioning of ecosystems, as a key component in the food chain and as plant pollinators. Their wholesale
decline, with two thirds of UKs common and widespread moths suffering declines in their populations and
an often shrinking distribution, is indicative of a diminishing insect biodiversity likely to impact more broadly
on all our fauna and flora. Habitat loss and change, through agricultural practices, woodland management
and urbanisation have contributed to these declines.
With your help we can do something. To help conserve these insects, part of our natural heritage,
Butterfly Conservation has established a Moth Challenge Fund to support conservation projects across the
country. The fund will help to pave the way for more sympathetic management of sites and habitats, and
drive an ambitious conservation programme.
For further information or to make a donation please visit the JustGiving website and search for The Moth
Challenge Fund, alternatively follow the following link: http://bit.ly/WHXm0o
7
Selected Bibliography
Lepidoptera literature 2012 – Mark Parsons & Richard Fox
This section intends to be a selective bibliography of references primarily of conservation importance
or relevance published during 2012, but also includes taxonomic works, such as those that may aid
identification. This is not comprehensive and it is probable that we have overlooked some references,
for example there are useful articles in the newsletters of local moth groups that have not been
trawled for the purposes of this summary. If there are any significant oversights, please let us know
and we will try to include them in next year’s update. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a
reference service. However, for some papers listed below that are published in international
journals, an abstract is often available free to view online.
BC produces Butterfly, three times a year, which includes illustrated articles on a wide range of
Lepidoptera and their conservation. The 2011 Annual Exhibition of the British Entomological and
Natural History Society is summarised in the British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 25:
153-176. There are also many useful records in the field meetings reports in that journal. Dr Paul
Waring produces a column on moths for each edition of British Wildlife magazine; this covers many
aspects of moth recording and conservation. Nick Bowles and Richard Fox produce a similar column
for butterflies in the same journal. The GMS (Garden Moth Scheme) has produced seasonal
newsletters over the year, highlighting trends for some species, and Light Trap Newsletter No. 37
from the Rothamsted Insect Survey was produced late in 2012. The Microlepidoptera Review of 2011
(although entitled Microlepidoptera Review of 2010) by John Langmaid & Mark Young is published in
the Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation, 124: 249-276.
Additions for 2011
Brazil, A., Dawson, A.P. & Dawson, C.M. 2011. Thirty Years of Norfolk Butterflies. An Atlas of
Distribution. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
Izzard, M.J. 2011. The History of Butterfly Recording in Northamptonshire 1820-2011.
Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
48
Witt, T.J. & Ronkay, L. (eds.). 2011. Noctuidae Europaeae. Volume 13. Lymantriinae and
Arctiinae. Entomological Press, Sorø.
Additions to the Lepidoptera fauna of the British Isles
Beaumont, H.E. 2012. Pseudococcyx tessulatana (Staudinger, 1871) (Lep.: Tortricidae,
Olethreutinae) in Britain. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 64-66.
Clement, P. 2012. One to watch out for: Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) apparently freeflying in Worcestershire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 13.
Fletcher, C.H. & Greaves, P.K. 2012. Scalloped Sack-bearer Lacosoma chiridota Grote: a possible
adventive species new for Britain. Atropos, No. 46: 77.
Hicks, M. & Clifton, J. 2012. The first British record of Maize Wainscot Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefeb.).
Atropos, No. 45: 9-10.
Homan, R. 2012. A British record of Phyllocnisits citrella Stainton, 1856 (Lep.: Phyllocnistidae).
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 279-281.
Percival, N.J. & Harvey, M.C. 2011 [2012]. Harpella forficella (Scopoli) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) new to
the UK. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 24: 220.
Sennitt, M. & Pratt, C. 2012. Fir Carpet Thera vetustata (D. & S.) – A species new to Britain. Atropos,
No. 47: 2-8.
Sokoloff, P. 2012. Changes to the British Lepidoptera list published during 2011. Atropos, No. 47:
40-42.
Solly, F. 2012. The first British record of the tortricoid moth Gravitarmata margarotana (Hein.).
Atropos, No. 45: 12-13.
Steele, T. 2012. Pyrausta aerealis (Hb.): New to Britain. Atropos, No. 47: 62-63.
Sterling, P.H., Evans, D. & Jeffes, M. 2012. Musotima nitidalis (Walker, [1866]) (Lepidoptera:
Crambidae) new to Britain. Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 43-47.
Terry, R. 2012. Bucculatrix chrysanthemella Rebel, 1896 (Lep.: Bucculatricidae) new to Britain.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 59-63.
Winterman, N. & Hunter, J. 2012. Black-spotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginosa (Scop.): New to Britain
and here to stay? Atropos, No. 46: 3-6.
Distribution maps/atlases, county and local lists
Anon. 2012. County Moth Recorders and Moth Recording Schemes. Entomologist’s Record &
Journal of Variation, 124: 1-10.
Bebbington, J., Clatworthy, R., Cotterill, M., Mathieson, I., Newman, P., Ridge, M., Tennant, P. &
Urwin, B. 2012. Macro-moth Distribution Atlas 2011 for Somerset (Vice-counties 5 & 6).
Somerset Environmental Records Centre/Privately Published.
Goddard, D. & Wyldes, A. 2012. Butterflies of Northamptonshire. Bedfordshire and
Northamptonshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
McCormick, R.F. 2012. New County and interesting Lepidoptera records in Devon in 2011.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 177.
Nash, D., Boyd, T. & Hardiman, D. 2012. Ireland’s Butterflies A Review. The Dublin Naturalists’
Field Club, Dublin.
49
Palmer, C. & S. 2012. Announcement: Gelechiidae Recording Scheme. Entomologist’s Record &
Journal of Variation, 124: 42-43.
Palmer, R.M., Porter, J. & Collins, G.A. 2012. Smaller Moths of Surrey. Surrey Wildlife Trust.
Woking.
Pratt, C. [2012] 2013. A complete history of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex. Supplement
Two. Privately published.
Warren, P. 2012. New Welsh and county moth records for Pembrokeshire in 2011. Entomologist’s
Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 226-227.
Identification
Badmin, J. 2012. The UK National Lepidoptera Collection goes electronic. Antenna, 36(4): 247-251.
Brown, D.C.G. 2012. Identification workshop: Separating Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum (D. & S.),
Heart & Club A. clavis (Hufn.) and Pearly Underwing Peridroma saucia (Hb.). Atropos, No. 46: 2632.
Clancy, S., Top-Jensen, M. & Fibiger, M. 2012. Moths of Great Britain and Ireland – A field guide
to all the macromoths. Bugbook Publishing, Oestermarie.
Clifton, J., Kemp, J. & Leverton, R. 2012. Arran Carpet Dysstroma concinnata (Steph.): Is it a valid
species? Atropos, No. 47: 16-25.
Clifton, J. & Wheeler, J. 2012. Conifer moths of the British Isles. Clifton & Wheeler, Hindolveston.
Hausmann, A. & Viidalepp, J. 2012. The Geometrid Moths of Europe. Volume 3. Apollo Books,
Vester Skerninge.
Leraut, P. 2012. Moths of Europe. Volume 3. Zygaenids, Pyralids 1. NAP Editions, Verrières-leBuisson.
Sterling, P., Parsons, M. & Lewington, R. 2012. Field Guide to the Micro-moths of Great Britain
and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, Gillingham.
Legislation
Harvey, M.S. 2012. The sale of Lepidoptera in Britain: A review of current legislation concerning the
sale within Britain of protected species of European macrolepidoptera. British Journal of
Entomology and Natural History, 25: 137-142.
Red lists
Davis, T. 2012. A review of the status of Microlepidoptera in Britain. Butterfly Conservation,
Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-02
Habitats and habitat management
Ellis, S., Bourn, N.A.D. & Bulman, C.R. 2012. Landscape-scale conservation for butterflies and
moths: lessons from the UK. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
Grundy, D. 2012. The Garden Moth Scheme in 2011. Atropos, No. 46: 33-37.
Hardman, C.J., Harris, D.B., Sears, J. & Droy, N. 2012. Habitat associations of invertebrates in
reedbeds, with implications for management. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater
Ecosytems, 22: 813-826.
50
Krämer, B., Poniatowski, D. & Fartmann, T. 2012. Effects of landscape and habitat quality on butterfly
communities in pre-alpine calcareous grasslands. Biological Conservation, 152: 253-261.
Leverton, R. 2012. Brownfield mothing long ago. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation,
124: 69-74.
Merckx, T., Feber, R.E., Hoare, D.J., Parsons, M.S., Kelly, C.J., Bourn, N.A.D. & McDonald, D.W.
2012. Conserving threatened Lepidoptera: Towards an effective woodland management policy in
landscapes under intense human land-use. Biological Conservation, 149: 32-39.
Merckx, T., Marini, L., Feber, R.E. & McDonald, D.W. 2012. Hedgerow trees and extended-width field
margins enhance macro-moth diversity: implications for management. Journal of Applied Ecology,
49: 1396 – 1404.
Öckinger, E. & Van Dyck, H. 2012. Landscape structure shapes habitat finding ability in a butterfly.
PLoS ONE, 7: e41517. (Published online).
Rickert, C., Fichtner, A., van Klink, R. & Bakker, J.P. 2012. α- and β-diversity in moth communities in
salt marshes is driven by grazing management. Biological Conservation, 146: 24-31.
Truxa, C. & Fiedler, K. 2012. Down in the flood? How moth communities are shaped in temperate
floodplain forests. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 5: 389-397.
Warwick, J. 2012. The importance of brownfield sites for moths: moths of Nosterfield Local Nature
Reserve in North Yorkshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 77-88.
Woods, R. 2012. Brownfield sites and moth diversity in the Tees Estuary. Entomologist’s Record &
Journal of Variation, 124: 89-100.
UK BAP Priority species - Butterflies
(See also Butterfly Conservation reports section below)
Brereton, T., Pilkington, G. & Roy, D. 2012. Conserving violet-feeding fritillary butterflies at Marsland
Nature Reserve. British Wildlife, 24(1): 1-8.
Eaton, G. 2012. A tale of three Grayling Hipparchia semele (L.). Atropos, No. 47: 55-57.
Fox, R., Brereton, T., Asher, J., Botham, M., Middlebrook, I., Roy, D. & Warren, M. 2012. The state of
the UK’s butterflies. British Wildlife, 23(4): 229-238.
Krämer, B., Kämpf, I., Enderle, J., Poniatowski, D. & Fartmann, T. 2012. Microhabitat selection in a
grassland butterfly: a trade-off between microclimate and food availability. Journal of Insect
Conservation, 16: 857-865.
Masterman, A. 2012. Changes in Mountain Ringlet Erebia epiphron (Knoch) habitat with altitude in
Scotland, associations with topography and possible effects of climate warming. Atropos, No. 47: 4354.
Parker, R. 2012. Monitoring a translocation of Silver-studded Blue in Suffolk. Antenna, 36(1): 32-35.
Porter, K. 2012. Restoring the Marsh Fritillary butterfly to Cumbria. Antenna, 36(1): 42-49.
Noordwijk, C.G.E. van, Flierman, D.E., Remke E., WallisDeVries, M.F. & Berg, M.P. 2012. Impact of
grazing management on hibernating caterpillars of the butterfly Melitaea cinxia in calcareous
grasslands. Journal of Insect Conservation, 16: 909-920.
UK BAP Priority species – Moths (excluding ‘Research only’ species)
(See also Butterfly Conservation reports section below)
51
Parsons, M. 2012. Phyllonorycter sagitella (Bjerkander) (Lep.: Gracillariidae) in Kent. Entomologist’s
Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 236.
Prichard, T. 2012. Olive Crescent Trisateles emortualis (D. & S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) colony discovered
in Suffolk. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 285.
Spalding, A., Young, M. & Dennis, R.L.H. 2012. The importance of host plant-habitat substrate in the
maintenance of a unique isolate of the Sandhill Rustic: disturbance, shingle matrix and bare ground
indicators. Journal of Insect Conservation, 16: 839-846.
Wenman, G. 2012. Lycia zonaria D. & S. Belted Beauty (Lep.: Geometridae) in Britain and France.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 170-172.
Wilton, D. 2012. Possible colony of Chalk Carpet Scotopteryx bipunctaria (D. & S.) (Lep.:
Geometridae) on a brownfield site in Buckinghamshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of
Variation, 124: 227-228.
Other Lepidoptera references
Note: Some references may cover UK BAP species in part.
General
Allen, D., Woodrow, W., Mellon, C., Hughes, M. & Nelson, B. 2012. A selection of invertebrates
closely associated with Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia (Rott.) habitat and Devil’s-bit Scabious
Succisa pratensis in Ireland. Atropos, No. 46: 48-55.
Betzholtz P-E., Pettersson L.B., Ryrholm N. & Franzén, M. 2012. With that diet, you will go far: traitbased analysis reveals a link between rapid range expansion and a nitrogen-favoured diet.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 280: 20122305.
Stewart, A.J.A. 2012. Insect translocations: should we move insect species that are faced with local
extinction to new areas? Antenna, 36(1): 30-31.
Truxa, C. & Fielder, K. 2012. Attraction to light – from how far do moths (Lepidoptera) return to weak
artificial sources of light? European Journal of Entomology 109: 77-84.
Climate Change/Phenology
Banthorpe, A. & M. 2012. Unseasonal records of Apamea anceps (D. & S.) Large Nutmeg (Lep.:
Noctuidae) in Bedfordshire (VC30). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 15.
Bedford, F.E., Whittaker, R.J. & Kerr, J.T. 2012. Systemic range shift lags among a pollinator species
assemblage following rapid climate change. Botany, 90: 587-597.
Breed, G.A., Stichter, S. & Crone, E.E. 2012. Climate-driven changes in northeastern US butterfly
communities. Nature Climate Change, published online doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1663
Brown, D.C.G. 2012. Early emergences of moths in Warwickshire, April 2011. Atropos, No. 45: 90.
Brown, D.C.G. 2012. Unseasonal moths in Warwickshire 2011. Entomologist’s Record & Journal
of Variation, 124: 101.
Davidson, D.W.W. 2012. A very early record of Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata (Steph.) (Lep.:
Geometridae). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 104. (see also p. 170.)
Devictor, V., van Swaay, C., Brereton, T., Brotons, L., Chamberlain, D., Heliölä, J., Herrando, S.,
Julliard, R., Kuussaari, M., Lindström, Å., Reif, J., Roy, D.B., Schweiger, O., Settele, J., Stefanescu,
C., Van Strien, A., Van Turnhout, C., Vermouzek, Z., WallisDeVries, M., Wynhoff., I. & Jiguet, F.
2012. Differences in the climatic debts of birds and butterflies at a continental scale. Nature Climate
Change, 2: 121-124.
52
Fletcher, C. 2012. Early records of Orthosia gothica (L.) Hebrew Character (Lep.: Noctuidae) and
other “Spring” moths in Yorkshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 19.
Franzén, M. & Öckinger, E. 2012. Climate-driven changes in pollinator assemblages during the last
60 years in an Arctic mountain region in Northern Scandinavia. Journal of Insect Conservation, 16:
227-238.
Hall, P.R. 2012. Two unseasonal records of Eupithecia dodoneata Guenée (Lep.: Geometridae) Oaktree Pug in Buckinghamshire (VC24). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 16-17.
Harvey, M.C. 2012. December Large Nutmeg Apamea anceps (D. & S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) in
Berkshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 14-15.
Hill, L.J. 2012. Unseasonal records of Apamea monoglypha (Hufn.) Dark Arches (Lep.: Noctuidae) in
Dorset (VC9). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 14.
Hunter, G. 2012. An early Spruce Carpet Thera britannica in Kintyre, Argyll. Atropos, No. 46: 75.
Illán, J.G., Gutiérrez, D., Díez, S.B. & Wilson, R.J. 2012. Elevational trends in butterfly phenology:
implications for species responses to climate change. Ecological Entomology, 37: 134-144.
Knill-Jones, S.A. 2012. A very early sighting of the Small Blue butterfly Cupido minimus (Fuess.)
(Lep.: Lycaenidae) in 2012. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 203.
Knill-Jones, S.A. 2012. Possible evidence on the Isle of Wight for climate change (part II).
Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 153-156.
Lawson, C.R., Bennie, J.J., Thomas, C.D., Hodgson, J.A. & Wilson, R.J. 2012. Local and landscape
management of an expanding range margin under climate change. Journal of Applied Ecology, 49:
552-561.
Mair, L., Thomas, C.D., Anderson, B.J., Fox, R., Botham, M. & Hill, J.K. 2012. Temporal variation in
responses of species to four decades of climate warming. Global Change Biology, 18: 2439-2447.
Oliver, T.H., Roy, D.B., Brereton, T. & Thomas, J.A. 2012. Reduced variability in range-edge butterfly
populations over three decades of climate warming. Global Change Biology, 18: 1531-1539.
Oliver, T.H., Thomas, C.D., Hill, J.K., Brereton, T. & Roy, D.B. 2012. Habitat associations of
thermophilous butterflies are reduced despite climatic warming. Global Change Biology, 18: 27202729.
Outen, A. R. 2012. An unseasonal record of Orthosia gothica (L.) Hebrew Character (Lep.:
Noctuidae) in Bedfordshire (VC30). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 17.
Partridge, N. 2012. An unseasonal record of Apamea anceps (D. & S.) (Lep.: Noctuidae), the Large
Nutmeg, in Buckinghamshire (VC24). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 14.
Pateman, R.M., Hill, J.K., Roy, D.B., Fox, R. & Thomas, C.D. 2012. Temperature-dependent
alterations in host use drive rapid range expansion in a butterfly. Science, 336: 1028-1030.
Plant, C.W. 2012. Is it early or is it late? A November Apamea anceps (D. & S.) Lep.: Noctuidae) in
Hertfordshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 15-16.
Pledge, D. 2012. Unseasonal Brown Rustic Rusina ferruginea Esper (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Middlesex.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 17-18.
Rapacciuolo, G., Roy, D.B., Gillings, S., Fox, R., Walker, K. & Purvis, A. 2012. Climatic associations
of British species distributions show good transferability in time but low predictive accuracy for range
change. PLoS ONE, 7: e40212. (Published online).
53
Tams, T. 2012. Unseasonal moths in Northumberland in 2011. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of
Variation, 124:16.
Thomas, C.D., Gillingham, P.K., Bradbury, R.B., Roy, D.B., Anderson, B.J., Baxter, J.M., Bourn,
N.A.D., Crick, H.Q.P., Findon, R.A., Fox, R., Hodgson, J.A., Holt, A.R., Morecroft, M.D., O’Hanlon,
N.J., Oliver, T.H., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Procter, D.A., Thomas, J.A., Walker, K.J., Walmsley, C.A.,
Wilson, R.J. & Hill, J.K. 2012. Protected areas facilitate species’ range expansions. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, 109: 14063-14068.
Butterflies
Barrington, R. 2012. Note on the distribution and ecology of the Gatekeeper butterfly Pyronia tithonus
(L.) ab. excessa Tutt in Britain and Europe (Lep.: Nymphalidae). Entomologist’s Record & Journal
of Variation, 124: 185-194.
Dawson, R. & H. 2012. Successful breeding of the Comma Polygonia c-album (L.) f. hutchinsoni
Robson in central Sctoland. Atropos, No. 47: 10-15.
Eaton, G. 2012. Attack and defence revisited. Atropos, No. 47: 68-69.
Heaven, K. 2012. Further observations of disrupting mating activity in butterflies. Atropos, No. 46:
72.
Kirkland, P. 2012. The enigmatic Erebia – the Scotch Argus in Britain. British Wildlife, 23(3): 179185.
Langdon, W. 2012. An observation of mating Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta. Atropos, No. 45: 91.
Luckens, C. 2012. Unusual host-plant for Polygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera:
Nymphalidae). Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 98.
Newland, D.E. 2012. Observations of Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops (Esp.) in the western Highlands,
2011. Atropos, No. 46: 56-61.
Oates, M. 2012. Adventures with caterpillars. The larval stage of the Purple Emperor butterfly. British
Wildlife, 23(5): 335-342.
Pateman, J. & Martin, J. 2012. A southward migration of Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and a northward migration of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773)
(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in West Sussex in autumn 2011. Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 84.
Schweiger, O., Heikkinen, R.K., Harpke, A., Hickler, T., Klotz, S., Kudrna, O., Kühn, I., Pöyry, J. &
Settele, J. 2012. Increasing range mismatching of interacting species under global change is related
to their ecological characteristics. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 21: 88-9.
Slamova, I., Klecka, J. & Konvicka, M. 2012. Woodland and grassland mosaic from a butterfly
perspective: habitat use by Erebia aethiops (Lepidoptera: Satyridae). Insect Conservation and
Diversity, published online doi: 10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00212.x
Spieth, H.R. & Cordes, R. 2012. Geographic comparison of seasonal migration events of the large
white butterfly, Pieris brassicae. Ecological Entomology, published online doi: 10.1111/j.13652311.2012.01385.x
Stefanescu, C., Askew, R.R., Corbera, J. & Shaw, M.R. 2012. Parasitism and migration in southern
Palaearctic populations of the painted lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).
European Journal of Entomology, 109: 85-94.
Stefanescu, C., Páramo, F., Åkesson, S., Alarcón, M., Ávila, A., Brereton, T., Carnicer, J., Cassar,
L.F., Fox, R., Heliölä, J., Hill, J.K., Hirneisen, N., Kjellén, N., Kühn, E., Kuussaari, M., Leskinen, M.,
54
Liechti, F., Musche, M., Regan, E.C., Reynolds, D.R., Roy, D.B., Ryrholm, N., Schmaljohann, H.,
Settele, J., Thomas, C.D., van Swaay, C. & Chapman, J.W. 2012. Multi-generational long-distance
migration of insects: studying the painted lady butterfly in the Western Palaearctic. Ecography, 36:
474-486.
Suggitt, A.J., Stefanescu, C., Páramo, F., Oliver, T., Anderson, B.J., Hill, J.K., Roy, D.B., Brereton, T.
& Thomas, C.D. 2012. Habitat associations of species show consistent but weak responses to
climate. Biology Letters, published online doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.0112
WallisDeVries, M.F., van Swaay, C.A.M. & Plate, C.L. 2012. Changes in nectar supply: A possible
cause of widespread butterfly decline. Current Zoology, 58: 384−391.
Woodcock, B.A., Bullock, J.M., Mortimer, S.R., Brereton, T., Redhead, J.W., Thomas, J.A. & Pywell,
R.F. 2012. Identifying time lags in the restoration of grassland butterfly communities: A multi-site
assessment. Biological Conservation, 155: 50-58.
Moths
Alfrey, P. & Coleman, D. 2012. Dewick’s Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa breeding in Britain.
Atropos, No. 45: 90-91.
Anon. 2012. Announcement: Is the Diamond-back Moth marked for extinction? Entomologist’s
Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 30.
Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J. 2012. Atemelia torquatella (Lienig & Zeller, 1846) (Lepidoptera:
Yponomeutidae) reared from Myrica gale L. on the Isle of Mull, Mid Ebudes, Scotland.
Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 48.
Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J. 2012. Discovery of the larva of Gynnidomorpha permixtana ([Denis &
Schiffermüller], 1775]) in the British Isles and a consideration of the species’ distribution there.
Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 69-83.
Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J. 2012. Kalmia procumbens (L.) Galasso, Banfi, & F. Conti, a new larval
foodplant of Olethreutes schulziana (Fabricius, 1776) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Entomologist’s
Gazette, 63: 42.
Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J. 2012. Scythris empetrella Karsholt & Nielsen at a second Scottish
site. Atropos, No. 47: 36-39.
Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J. 2012. Spruce Carpet Thera britannica (Turner) (Lep.: Geometridae) in
late March in Devon. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 166.
Chapman, J.W., Bella, J.R., Burginc, L.E., Reynolds, D.R., Pettersson, L.B., Hill, J.K., Bonsall, M.B. &
Thomas, J.A. 2012. Seasonal migration to high latitudes results in major reproductive benefits in an
insect. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109: 14924-14929.
Clifton, J. 2012. Eucosma campoliliana (D. & S.) (Lep.: Tortricidae): New to the Shetland Islands.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 102.
Clifton, J. 2012. Results from a pheromone trap run in a rural Norfolk garden during 2011.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 12.
Corley, M. 2012. Moths and hay bales. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 181183.
Craig, A. 2012. Oviposition in Pennisetia hylaeiformis (Lasp.) – The Raspberry Clearwing (Lep.:
Sesiidae). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 212-214.
See also Editorial Comment: Oviposition in Pennisetia hylaeiformis (pp.214).
55
Cubitt, M. 2012. Moths on West Lothian ‘bings’. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation,
124: 66.
Denton, J.S. 2012. Stathmopoda pedella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) in East Cornwall and
Nottinghamshire. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 25: 110.
Denton, J.S. & Dodd, S. 2012. Prochoreutis myllerana (Fabr.) (Choreutidae) and Idaea muricata
(Hufnagel) (Geometridae) in North Hampshire. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History,
25: 90.
Dickerson, B. 2012. Phyllocnistis saligna: new to Huntingdonshire. Atropos, No. 46: 76.
Dobson, A.H. 2012. Moth attractions: Blossom versus light-traps. Atropos, No. 46: 43-47.
Fox, R. 2012. Record Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum (L.) (Lep.: Sphingidae)
immigration into Britain and Ireland in 2011. Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation, 124:
140-143.
Fox, R. 2012. The decline of moths in Great Britain: a review of possible causes. Insect
Conservation and Diversity, published online doi: 10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00186.x
Franzén, M. & Betzholtz, P-E. 2012. Species traits predict island occupancy in noctuid moths.
Journal of Insect Conservation, 16: 155-163.
Franzén, M. & Nilsson, S.G. 2012. Climate-dependent dispersal rates in metapopulations of burnet
moths. Journal of Insect Conservation, 16: 941-947.
Gould, P.J.L. 2012. First record of the Large Thorn Ennomos autumnaria Werneb. (Lep.:
Geometridae) in Leicestershire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 19-20.
Gould, P.J.L. 2012. New records of Triple-spotted Pug Eupithecia trisignaria H.-S. (Lep.:
Geometridae) in Bedfordshire, VC30. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 25.
Gould, P.J.L. 2012. The Rothamsted Insect Survey light-trap on Jersey – specimens of note from
2009. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 26-27.
Hall, P.R. 2012. Bohemannia auriciliella (Joannis, 1908) (Lep.: Nepticulidae) – new to
Buckinghamshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 101-102.
Hammond, M. 2012. A record of Pyrausta nigrata in Northamptonshire (VC32). Atropos, No. 47: 7274
Harvey, M.C. 2012. Batrachedra praeangusta (Haw.) (Lep.: Batrachedridae) new to the Isle of Wight.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 160.
Harvey, M.C. & Norriss, T. 2012. Monochroa lutulentella (Zeller) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) new to the Isle of
Wight, with details of records from Hampshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124:
11-12.
Heckford, R.J. 2012. Agonopterix subpropinquella (Stainton) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) reared from Sawwort Serratula tinctoria. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 102.
Heckford, R.J. 2012. Gnorimoschema streliciella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)
erroneously recorded from Westmorland, England, and a note on its biology. Entomologist’s
Gazette, 63: 95-97.
Heckford, R.J. 2012. The larval stage of Epagoge grotiana (Fabricius) (Lep.: Tortricidae).
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 27-29.
56
Heckford, R.J. & Beavan, S.D. 2012. Celypha rufana (Scopoli, 1763) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): an
account of the early stages in captivity. Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 217-221.
Heckford, R.J. & Henwood, B.P. 2012. Phycitodes saxicola (Vaughan) (Lep.: Pyralidae) in mid-April.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 194.
Henwood, B.P. 2012. Gynnidomorpha permixtana ([Denis & Schiffermller], 1775) (Lepidoptera:
Tortricidae) reared from Pedicularis palustris L. in the Outer Hebrides. Entomologist’s Gazette, 63:
202
Henwood, B.P. 2012. Zygaena lonicerae (Scheven, 1777) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) in Devon.
Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 152.
Homan, R. 2012. Phyllonorycter leucographella (Zeller, 1850) (Lep.: Gracillariidae) and Prunus.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 22-23.
Hunter, G. 2012. True Lover’s Knot Lycophotia porphyrea caterpillar predated by crab spider.
Atropos, No. 46: 73-74.
Jennings, M.T. & S.A. 2011 [2012]. A first record of Yellow-ringed Carpet Entephria flavicincta (Hübn)
(Lep.: Geometridae) on Mull, Argyll, Scotland. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History,
24: 210.
Jones, D. 2012. Mompha bradleyi Riedl (Lep.: Momphidae) in West Norfolk. Entomologist’s Record
& Journal of Variation, 124: 101.
Knill-Jones, S. 2012. Moths new to the Isle of Wight in 2011. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of
Variation, 124: 203.
Leverton, R. 2012. Thyme Pug Eupithecia distinctaria (H.-S.) (Lep.: Geometridae). Why is it so local?
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 20-22.
Malumphy, C. 2012. Abundance of Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (Hübner, 1813) (Lepidoptera:
Pterophoridae) occurring indoors in North Yorkshire. Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 1-2
Manning, D. 2012. Mompha jurassicella (Frey) (Lep.: Momphidae) – some recent records.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 184.
Meredith, G.H.J. 2012. Scythris crassiuscula (Herrich-Schäffer) (Lep.: Scythrididae) bivoltine in the
Cotswolds. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 167-169.
Miller, R. 2012. Morophaga choragella (D. & S.) (Lep.: Tineidae) feeding in derelict larval galleries of
Dorcus parallelepipedus (Col. : Lucanidae). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124:
228-230.
Parsons, M. 2012. Further sites for the Sombre Brocade Dryobotodes tenebrosa. Atropos, No. 45:
92-93.
Pickles, T. 2012. Flight time of Eriopygodes imbecilla (Fabr.) (Lep.: Noctuidae) The Silurian.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 278-279.
Picozzi, N. 2012. Adaptation of the hind legs for display by male Gold Swift Hepialus hecta L. (Lep.:
Hepialidae). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 165-166.
Prater, B. 2012. A record of Chamomile Shark in October. Atropos, No. 46: 74-75.
Pratt, C. 2012. The Rannoch Looper Itame brunneata (Thunb.) in Sussex – is it breeding here?
Atropos, No. 45: 3-8.
57
Royles, K. 2012. To what height will a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae
(Scheven) (Lep.: Zygaenidae) climb to pupate? Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation,
124: 209-211.
Royles, K. & Dickerson, B. 2012. The Isle of Wight Wave Idaea humiliata (Hufn.) (Lep.: Geometridae)
found in Old Weston, Huntingdonshire. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 40-41.
Royles, K. & Dickerson, B. 2012. The Isle of Wight Wave Idaea humiliata (Hufn.) (Lep.: Geometridae)
in Huntingdonshire: A correction. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 161.
Salisbury, A., Korycinska, A. & Halstead, A.J. 2012. The first occurrence of larvae of the Box Tree
Moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in private gardens in the UK. British Journal
of Entomology and Natural History, 25: 1-5.
Sexton, S. 2012. Caloptilia hemidactylella (D. & S.) (Lep.: Gracillariidae): A rare species discovered in
Northumberland. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 231-233.
Signorile, L. 2012. An unusual, new larval host-plant for Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, 1799)
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Entomologist’s Gazette, 63: 49-51.
Spalding, A. 2012. Temperature determines the presence of Micropterix calthella L. (Lep.:
Micropterigidae) in flower-heads of Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens. Entomologist’s Record
& Journal of Variation, 124: 153-160.
Tams, T. 2012. Acrolepiopsis betulella (Curtis) rediscovered in Co. Durham. Atropos, No. 46: 7-9.
Tams, T. 2012. Coleophora frischella (L.) (Lep.: Coleophoridae) and other interesting new moth
records for Northumberland. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 163-164.
Tams, T. 2012. Pammene ignorata (Kuzn.) (Lep.: Tortricidae): A new Northumberland (VC67) record.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 282-285.
Teale, S.M. 2012. Oak Eggar Lasiocampa quercus (L.) (Lep.: Lasiocampidae) larva recorded on
food-plant previously unrecorded in Sussex (VC14). Entomologist’s Record & Journal of
Variation, 124: 179-181.
Tunmore, M., Hill, L. & Briggs, P. 2012. National Moth Night: 15 May 2010. Atropos, No. 45: 14-28.
Waring, P. 2012. Some noteworthy moth records from Werrington, Peterborough, in 2011.
Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation, 124: 172-176.
Butterfly Conservation reports (2012)
General
Hoare, D J., Bourn, N., Dent, K., Ellis, S., Kelly, C., McLellan, L., Thompson, F. & Wheatley, S. 2012.
The South East Woodlands Project: rebuilding biodiversity through woodland management.
Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No.S12-04.
Kelly,C. & Bourn, N. 2012. Contract between Forestry Commission England and Butterfly
Conservation for the implementation of the ‘Lepidoptera on Forestry Commission Land in
England: Conservation Strategy 2007-2017’ - Summary of Progress from April 2011 to March
2012. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No.S12-07.
Butterflies
Joy, J. 2012. Progress on landscape level working from the Midlands Fritillary Action Group
2010-2012. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-12.
58
Joy, J. 2012. The impact of Management on Pearl-bordered Fritillary populations in the Wyre
Forest. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-08.
Joy, J. 2012. The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) in the Cannock Chase area
2009 and 2010. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-09.
Kelly, C. & Bourn, N. 2012. Heath Fritillary in the Blean Woodlands: 2011 Status Report. Butterfly
Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-05.
Kelly, C., Plackett, J. & Bourn, N. 2012. Heath Fritillary on Exmoor: 2011 Status Report. Butterfly
Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-06.
Plackett, J. & Bourn, N. 2012. The Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project Progress Report
April 2011 - March 2012. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S1203.
Plackett, J. & Bourn, N. 2012. The Two Moors Threatened Butterfly Project Interim Progress
Report April 2012 - September 2012. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation
report No. S12-18.
Slater, M., Ellis, S. & Joy, J. 2012. Restoration of a Small Blue Metapopulation on the Southam
Lias Grasslands of Warwickshire. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report
No. S12-20.
Vulliamy, B., Vulliamy, R. & Kelly, C. 2012. Heath Fritillary in the Tamar Valley 2012 Status
Report. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-21.
Williams, C. 2012. The Status, Mobility and Habitat Requirements of the Small Pearl-bordered
Fritillary (Boloria selene) in Clocaenog Forest and the Alwens: A summary of the 2010 & 2011
field results. Butterfly Conservation Contract Report to Forestry Commission Wales. Butterfly
Conservation report No. S12-01.
Moths
Clancy, S.P. 2012. The Black-veined Moth Siona lineata (Scopoli, 1763) survey 2012. Butterfly
Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-14.
Clancy, S.P., 2012. The Bright Wave Moth Idaea ochrata (Scopoli, 1763) Survey 2012. Butterfly
Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-15.
Clancy, S.P., 2012. The Marsh Mallow Moth (Hydraecia osseola Stgr. ssp hucherardi Mab.)
Survey 2012. Butterfly Conservation Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-23.
Clancy, S.P., 2012. The Sussex Emerald moth (Thalera fimbrialis Scop.) survey 2012. Butterfly
Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-19.
Clancy, S.P., 2012. The Sussex Emerald Moth (Thalera fimbrialis Scop.) Targeted Habitat
Assessment Report (Partnership Project 2012). Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly
Conservation report No. S12-22.
Haggett, G.M. 2012. Basil Thyme Case-bearer moth (Coleophora tricolor Walsingham. 1899) in
the Norfolk and Suffolk Breck. Research and survey 2011. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report No. S12-17.
Haggett G.M. 2012. Lunar Yellow Underwing Noctua orbona (Hufnagel), larval survey in Norfolk
and Suffolk Breckland 2011-2012. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly Conservation report
No. S12-16.
59
Hatcher, P.E., 2012. Netted Carpet Moth Eustroma reticulatum ([Denis & Schiffermüller]) Lake
District & North Lancashire Survey, September 2011. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. Butterfly
Conservation report No. S12-13.
60
Appendix A – List of UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Lepidoptera Species
Current UK BAP Priority butterfly species (2007 list)
Common name
Brown Hairstreak
Chequered Skipper
Dingy Skipper
Duke of Burgundy
Glanville Fritillary
Grayling
Grizzled Skipper
Heath Fritillary
High Brown Fritillary
Large Blue
Large Heath
Lulworth Skipper
Marsh Fritillary
Mountain Ringlet
Northern Brown Argus
Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Silver-studded Blue
Small Blue
Small Heath
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
Wall
White Admiral
White Letter Hairstreak
Wood White
Total
Scientific name
Thecla betulae
Carterocephalus palaemon
Erynnis tages
Hamearis lucina
Melitaea cinxia
Hipparchia semele
Pyrgus malvae
Melitaea athalia
Argynnis adippe
Phengaris arion
Coenonympha tullia
Thymelicus acteon
Euphydryas aurinia
Erebia epiphron
Aricia artaxerxes
Boloria euphrosyne
Plebejus argus
Cupido minimus
Coenonympha pamphilus
Boloria selene
Lasiommata megera
Limenitis camilla
Satyrium w-album
Leptidea sinapis
24
Current UK BAP Priority moth species (2007 list)
Common name
Argent & Sable
Ashworth`s Rustic
Barberry Carpet
Barred Tooth-striped
Basil-thyme Case-bearer
Beautiful Pearl
Belted Beauty
Betony Case-bearer
Black-veined Moth
Bordered Gothic
Bright Wave
Brighton Wainscot
Chalk Carpet
Chalk-hill Lance-wing
Clay Fan-Foot
Common Fan-foot
Concolorous
Cousin German
Currant-shoot Borer
Dark Crimson Underwing
Dark-bordered Beauty
Dingy Mocha
Dorset Tineid Moth
Drab Looper
False Mocha
Fenn's Wainscot
Scientific name
Rheumaptera hastata
Xestia ashworthii
Pareulype berberata
Trichopteryx polycommata
Coleophora tricolor
Agrotera nemoralis
Lycia zonaria britannica
Coleophora wockeella
Siona lineata
Heliophobus reticulata
Idaea ochrata cantiata
Oria musculosa
Scotopteryx bipunctaria
Epermenia insecurella
Paracolax tristalis
Pechipogo strigilata
Chortodes extrema
Protolampra sobrina
Lampronia capitella
Catocala sponsa
Epione vespertaria
Cyclophora pendularia
Eudarcia richardsoni
Minoa murinata
Cyclophora porata
Chortodes brevilinea
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Pyropteron chrysidiformis
Fiery Clearwing
Adscita statices
Forester
Tyta luctuosa
Four-Spotted Moth
Agonopterix capreolella
Fuscous Flat-body Moth
Cossus cossus
Goat Moth
Agonopterix atomella
Greenweed Flat-body Moth
Lithostege griseata
Grey Carpet
Dicycla oo
Heart Moth
Nemophora fasciella
Horehound Long-horn Moth
Coleophora vibicella
Large Gold Case-bearer
Scythris siccella
Least Owlet
Catocala promissa
Light Crimson Underwing
Grapholita pallifrontana
Liquorice Piercer
Noctua orbona
Lunar Yellow Underwing
Hydraecia osseola hucherardi
Marsh Mallow Moth
Athetis pallustris
Marsh Moth
Celypha woodiana
Mistletoe Marble
Hemaris tityus
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
Eustroma reticulata
Netted Carpet
Macaria carbonaria
Netted Mountain Moth
Zygaena viciae argyllensis
New Forest Burnet
Xestia alpicola alpina
Northern Dart
Trisateles emortualis
Olive Crescent
Jodia croceago
Orange Upperwing
Polia bombycina
Pale Shining Brown
Nemapogon picarella
Pied Tineid Moth
Acosmetia caliginosa
Reddish Buff
Aplasta ononaria
Rest Harrow
Stigmella zelleriella
Sandhill Pigmy Moth
Luperina nickerlii leechi
Sandhill Rustic (Cornish ssp.)
Sciota hostilis
Scarce Aspen Knot-horn
Phyllonorycter sagitella
Scarce Aspen Midget Moth
Aplota palpella
Scarce Brown Streak
Pyrausta sanguinalis
Scarce Crimson & Gold
Nematopogon magna
Scarce Long-horn Moth
Eupithecia extensaria occidua
Scarce Pug
Orgyia recens
Scarce Vapourer
Heliothis maritima
Shoulder-striped Clover
Idaea dilutaria
Silky Wave
Syncopacma albipalpella
Slate Sober Moth
Zygaena loti scotica
Slender Scotch Burnet
Aleucis distinctata
Sloe Carpet
Anarta cordigera
Small Dark Yellow Underwing
Coscinia cribraria bivittata
Speckled Footman
Aspitates gilvaria gilvaria
Straw Belle
Shargacucullia lychnitis
Striped Lychnis
Phyllonorycter scabiosella
Surrey Midget Moth
Thalera fimbrialis
Sussex Emerald
Xylena exsoleta
Sword-Grass
Coleophora hydrolapathella
Water-dock Case-bearer
Syncopacma suecicella
Western Sober Moth
Archanara neurica
White-mantled Wainscot
Hadena albimacula
White-spot
Cosmia diffinis
White-spotted Pinion
Anania funebris
White-spotted Sable Moth
Total 81
(The 71 UK BAP ‘Research only’ species are not shown above)
62